Believe it or not, every single player in the NBA does. 

Over the past few years, NBA Twitter has become filled with fan accounts dedicated to literally every player and organization within the League. We’re talking hundreds upon hundreds of accounts fueled by one sole purpose: amplifying the success of their chosen player or franchise. 

Go ahead, go to the search bar and look up anyone from Stephen Curry to Xavier Tillman, put “Muse” at the end of their name, and you’re bound to find an account that’s posting about them on a daily basis—in some instances, several duke it out in reply threads for the “official” title. Aaron Wiggins, Josh Green, even G-League legend Andre Ingram all have accounts repping them with a passion. This shit is random, it’s weird, and it damn near doesn’t make any sense. All the while, they make memes, troll each other during matchups, are followed by All-Stars and rake in millions of impressions a week. 

The collection of Muse accounts has seen legal action, led to social media careers by account holders and shaped an entire era of sports social media, for better or worse. Some folks think they’re the “downfall of NBA Twitter”, some love the added entertainment to scroll through on a nightly basis and some are completely oblivious to the supposed reason for the existence of the accounts: the statistical performance of the individual players.

“In a modern masculinity sense, it’s very cute to know that these kids, these teenagers, these adults, what have you, they’re real people and they’re talking about who they miss and who they enjoy. And that type of beauty is lovely and that’s why I enjoy it and am still involved in it,” the account holder behind SpursMuse said. 

As accounts for the obscure 10th man on NBA rosters continued to arise this past season, we wanted to truly understand what a Muse account was. How do they get these vague yet specific advanced stats? Why are they beefing and cussing each other out? Is this a job? Do they get paid? Why does Mason Plumlee have a dedicated account posting about his nightly numbers? Where did this all come from? 

For the past few months, we’ve been searching for answers. We reached out to and spoke with various Muse accounts to figure out how they started an account and to dish on the inner workings of the Network. We got on the phone with the founders of StatMuse to see if they’re even behind this phenomenon that uses their visual likeness (more on that later). And we might have gotten some answers. 

Fan accounts on NBA Twitter are nothing new, but these Muse accounts are a different breed. Using StatMuse’s AI-powered sports statistic search engine, accounts fuel online discourse, banter and engagement plastered with cartoonish illustrations of players across the L. Any statistical feat that you could ever dream of gets posted on a nightly basis. 

For the past two and a half years, the Muse Network has turned X—formerly known as Twitter—into a hotbed for some of the most obscure online sports beefs in recent memory. All the accounts may be tied to the sports stats company StatMuse, but that doesn’t mean everyone sees eye to eye. At the end of the day, this is hoops. Shit’s competitive.

Each account holds an unyielding loyalty to their team or player. Airing out grievances is a weekly occurrence as new pages enter the fold almost daily. 

WiseMuse—short for James Wiseman—was going back and forth with an anime page in February when Marcus Morris Sr.’s account came flying in from the top rope to diss them for having an account dedicated to the Pistons center. The frequency of run-ins has coined its own definition, “Muse Beef.” 

Back in 2014, Eli Dawson and Adam Elmore saw a new angle in the shared landscape between sports, statistics and software. The two founded StatMuse, a media company that focused on creating digestible stats content with the help of AI.

“If you go back to 2014 when Adam wrote the first line of code, Siri was out but you didn’t have the explosion of AI that you have today,” Dawson says. “So our fundamental bet was that this is gonna be the decade that humans start talking to computers. And once humans start talking to computers, it should transform the media experience where you can have this interactive, dynamic storytelling where whatever’s on your mind, whatever you want to learn more about, you can really drive that experience and all you have to do is ask.”

A decade ago you couldn’t type “Highest career playoff FG% by a player with 20+ MPG (minimum 15 games)” into a search bar and immediately get the figures back for DeAndre Jordan, Dereck Lively II and Rudy Gobert. You’d have to count through the games or pray someone else had already asked the question. Now StatMuse does it for you. 

With boundless opportunities to explore statistical feats and anomalies, social media took it from there. 

The phenomenon started in late 2021 and early 2022 with accounts like WarriorsMuse—now at 98.1K followers—and MavsMuse—now at 46.4K—arriving on the scene. Others followed that fall. Then the Network’s spontaneous nature came to fruition. Making an account for a perennial All-Star is one thing; you’ve got an unending stream of data and playing time to your advantage. Building an entire account for a role player like Zeke Nnaji or JT Thor—which actually exists—is a little absurd. But it kept happening. 

“Once Stat Muse started getting a little bit more involved and started engaging with us a little bit more, I think it became something different,” says the SpursMuse account holder. (The SpursMuse account holder—and most of the other account holders quoted in this story—asked us not to print their actual names.) “But in the early stages, it was definitely just a rag-tag page. No structure, no organization. Just a social media account like any other guy would have.”

As followings grew and accounts piled up, StatMuse decided to finally embrace the army of individuals who were preaching their gospel. Retweets, quote tweets and follows served as an official stamp of support from the company. When nearly every team had a representative, they encouraged their followers to create even more accounts for the remaining players and teams.

“I remember one of the first weeks I started, the whole big thing with all the new Muse accounts was getting StatMuse to follow you. And once StatMuse followed you, you knew that you were legit,” the HeatMuse account holder says.

Currently, individuals in the Network can monetize their accounts through X’s ad revenue system. Smaller accounts typically walk away with anywhere from $15-$30 a month while larger pages are making around $80, the SpursMuse account holder estimates. Other accounts pull in a bit more by agreeing to sponsored content deals with small companies who are looking to reach their X audiences. 

At the end of June, StatMuse launched a complete redesign of its website. Currently the company is still exploring programs that will share economic ventures with the community, like splitting up the advertisement revenue made off the new site. For the account holders, that’ll be a lot better than the $500 vouchers they used to receive to spend at the company’s online merch store. 

With roughly 500 accounts spread across multiple professional sports leagues, the Muse Network varies in its approach to content. Some accounts post hard statistics, while others lean into the nuances of social media. 

“SpursMuse kind of took off because I had always had a tonal bit to my account that everything was useless. Everything was out of context, everything lacked a bigger picture. And that’s just part of the conversation with any online sports stat,” the SpursMuse account holder says. “I became kind of enamored with the bit of, how can I find the funniest stats that would leave out such an important piece of context?”

He points to his April 16 post as proof. 

“The reality is that LeBron James has a billion triple-doubles past 38. But Timmy D is the only one with two blocks,” he says. “So I love doing that, trying to find the little bit of context, erase it, then you have the bare bones stat because then it’s way more abstract. It’s a little bit more fun in that sense.”

Leaving out context on social media is a venture that MavsMuse recently realized may not be worth it. After reaching the NBA Finals, MavsMuse tweeted that Jason Kidd was the first person ever to reach the Finals as a player and coach for the same team. He forgot to mention that his findings were based after the ABA and NBA merger. 

His post was met with a Community Note from fellow users pointing out that the likes of Bill Russell, Al Attles, Pat Riley, KC Jones and several others had already been there, done that. 

This playful approach to NBA Twitter has faced a range of reactions throughout the Network’s tenure. Social media has always been an unforgiving place. One misstep or incorrect stat leads to the whole community being roped into the same bucket. At the same time, the freedom associated with joining the Network is enticing. For accounts like BrunsonMuse, operating within the space wasn’t even about the stats. 

In September of 2021, ObiMuse—an account about Obi Toppin—was created as a joke. The New Yorker behind the account had seen the recent uptick in accounts and decided to make a bet with his cousin. They’d both make a player account and whoever reached 1,000 followers first won. After a week and about 20 tweets, ObiMuse had cleared 1K. 

By the start of the 2022-23 season, the account had around 3,000 followers. By March, he’d lost interest in growing the following. A rebrand was needed and whispers of a potential Obi Toppin trade had begun to grow louder and louder. At the same time, Jalen Brunson had finally hit his stride after being traded to The Mecca. Within minutes ObiMuse was flipped to BrunsonMuse.

The account holder of BrunsonMuse says the growth of his account was tied to two factors; posting quality over quantity and the emergence of Jalen Brunson as a bonafide superstar. Brunson’s stellar 2023-24 season brought new heights of attention to his page, which now sits at over 14K followers. WolvesMuse has seen the same scenario, gaining nearly 7,000 followers this season after Anthony Edwards planted his stake in the League as its next superstar.

“Honestly, the accounts for each player and each team is really like a stock,” the account holder of BrunsonMuse says. “If Jalen has a hot week I’ll gain more followers than I did the week prior. If he has a slow week, likes all go down, all engagement goes down, following goes down, everything goes down. It’s really just a reflection of how talented the team or the player is that we represent.”

It takes a certain level of dedication to run an account like this; to track, defend and follow a singular player throughout an entire year. Only beat reporters see this much confrontation and obsessive analysis. So when we learned that it was high schoolers, college students and everyday dudes in their 20s running these accounts, everything clicked. Leave it to the next generation to spawn one of the most divisive social trends in sports. 

“They all bully me in the main chat,” the SpursMuse account holder says between laughs. “I get the most shit out of anybody. Everyone says I’m a geezer. Everyone says I watched Wilt’s 100-point game—like I get crap from everybody. And it’s funny, I’m not that old, I’m just so much older than half the chat.” (He’s in his mid-20s.) 

That’s right, there’s a group chat. Over a year and a half ago, a number of the OG accounts started the chat that now houses nearly all of the Network’s heavy hitters, currently sitting at around 70 members. The chat has become an extension of the Network’s potential, connecting fans from across the globe, with some account holders living in Germany, Australia and throughout Asia. 

Every account we spoke with enjoys the hell out of the experience, but the Network isn’t immune to the pitfalls of social media. “If one Muse account is bad or lacking, that’s a reflection on the entire community,” the HeatMuse account holder says. “That’s something that we really emphasize in our own chat.” 

StatMuse allows those they refer to as “good participants” to use their IP, like their hand-drawn images and incorporating the company’s handle into an account name. In turn, the accounts are expected to uphold StatMuse’s brand image. But that’s kind of hard when literally anyone can make an account with Muse at the end.

“I’ve always worried, selfishly, that we are all committing copyright infringement. At its core, aren’t we all doing that? All it would take is one account doing something that puts StatMuse’s likeness at risk and then StatMuse shuts everyone down,” the SpursMuse account holder says. “I wish more people understood that and the impact that it would have.” 

Not only are the accounts aware of the potential consequences—they’ve seen them firsthand in the form of a now-nonexistent account known as BrickMuse. 

The aforementioned account focused on meme-driven content and would pay to boost their posts with likes and reshares from bot accounts. For a period of time, they remained in the group chat, although several accounts we spoke with noted their disdain for the individual and how they promoted their page. During the 2023-24 regular season, the community had enough when the account began pedaling false narratives about certain players having disabilities. 

Account holders immediately reached out to the StatMuse admins in hopes of getting BrickMuse removed. Reportedly, the company did more than that. They went with the legal route and forced the individual to renounce his account in full alongside any connection to StatMuse. 

“At the end of the day, it’s our IP. So if someone starts becoming a brand negative, we can get them to quit using the illustrations,” Dawson says. “It’s pretty rare and at this point, the community has people that want to join because it is positive, they love talking about stats. I think it’s kind of a self-fulfilling community at this point.”

Yes, the Muse Network has seen the ugly face of social media on more than one occasion and there are plenty out there who look down on this young group of creators, but there’s still an eccentric beauty in the movement. 

It’s puzzling yet endearing. Its randomness is fascinating as new accounts continue to spawn. And the randomness and weirdness never seems to stop. We’ve got X accounts for Markieff Morris arguing with a Cam Reddish stan over who was a better Lakers role player—Morris or Talen Horton Tucker. And they’re using stats to back it up. You can’t make this shit up. 

Photos via StatMuse.

The post Extreme Fandom: Uncovering the Mystery Behind StatMuse and the Legion of Muse Accounts That Just Keep Appearing appeared first on SLAM.

For the next 30 days—Monday through Friday— we’ll be unveiling the full list here. We’ve also got an exclusive retro collegiate collection, out now, that pays homage to each squad’s threads. Shop here.

The All-American sensation of Jason Kidd. The prolific scoring of Lamond Murray. The 1993-94 California Bears saw a season full of gold headlined by their fifth-ever Sweet 16 appearance. Draped in shimmering yellow-gold threads, this Cal squad was at the epicenter of the Golden State.

Fresh off being named the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, Jason Kidd dropped 16.7 points per game as a sophomore, dishing out 9.1 assists, 6.9 rebounds and 3.1 steals. The stocky 6-4 Bay Area native breezed past the school’s previous record of most assists in a season with 272.

Pair Kidd with a scintillating scorer like Murray, and it was game over for the Pac-10. Murray scored a team-high 24.3 points in the ‘94 season and hauled down 7.9 rebounds per game. The Pasadena native was one of the best scorers the program had seen, and he would become the Bears’ all-time scoring leader with 1,688 points, ranking him at No. 4. Kidd’s sorcery and Murray’s athleticism forced opponents into a persistent state of fear. Lobs, behind-the-back dimes, no-looks, skips and shovel passes could come from anywhere at any time. With the ball in Kidd’s hands, even if you thought you weren’t open, you were open.

While Murray was known for his quiet and stoic demeanor—word is he’d rock his headphones and Walkman around campus with no music playing—the 6-7 junior forward’s game was anything but silent. If you needed a bucket? Lamond Murray. Looking for a transition highlight? Lamond Murray. Who was getting the play call in the huddle? Again, Lamond Murray.

As for Kidd, he was cemented as one of the best players to come out of the Bay Area, a true hometown hero of the West Coast. The former Naismith Player of the Year in high school introduced the program to their first taste of national prominence. With Kidd constantly drawing nationwide allure, The Golden Bears were forced to move some of their home games to the Oakland Coliseum the year prior as ticket sales demanded a larger venue. Kidd’s showmanship on the hardwood was so enticing that the Golden Bears were hooping in front of sold-out crowds for two straight seasons. Now, Kidd’s illustrious No.5 jersey hangs in the rafters of Haas Pavilion, cementing his legacy in Golden Bears history.

Then there were the likes of Monty Buckley, Ryan Jamison, Alfred Grigsby and K.J. Roberts. The recruiting Class of ‘91, alongside Kidd and Murray, were the giants of the West. Their preparation was different. Summer workouts at Harmon Gym consisted of going against the NBA’s best. Game reps with the likes of Tim Hardaway, Gary Payton, Brian Shaw, Antonio Davis, Mitch Richmond, Steve Nash and Chris Mullin were almost an unfair advantage. But hey, that’s the perks of being in Cali. Constant battles against the League’s best eviscerated any fear that may have arisen throughout the 93-94 season.

Showtime was truly taking place in the Oakland Coliseum. With Kidd as lead orchestrator, the Cal Bears enacted a masterful symphony each night. Fans thrived for fast break opportunities, and the Bears delivered. Baggy mesh threads flying across the hardwood. Nasty no-look dimes leading to rim-rocking dunks. This brand of basketball was just different.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post The 30 Most Influential NCAA MBB Teams of SLAM’s 30 Years: ‘94 Cal appeared first on SLAM.

We compiled a group of individuals (programming note: 30 entries, not 30 people total) who mean something special to SLAM and to our audience. Read the full list here and order your copy of SLAM 248, where this list was originally published, here.

The idea for SLAM came to me sometime in early 1994. A friend of mine suggested I make a hip-hop basketball magazine. This light bulb moment became much brighter that night, and I published the first issue of SLAM three months later. The rest is history—30 years later, it is surreal to me that it has survived this long. 

Keep in mind, there was no internet back then—SLAM was the basketball internet. The world is much different now, but what continues to blow my mind to this day is how many times people come up to me to say how much SLAM influenced their lives. It feels good every time I hear that.

Let’s go back to 1994 in New York City, where it all began. Cory Johnson, the founding editor of SLAM, and I began to plan out that legendary first issue. Larry Johnson would be on the cover, and we had features on Jason Kidd, Rodrick Rhodes and playground legend Joe Hammond, a column on Felipe Lopez, SLAMadamonth and our first PUNKS story on Steve Wojciechowski. No one had seen a sports magazine like this. If you were lucky enough to buy that premiere issue on a newsstand, then you are officially an original member of the SLAM Fam. 

Then we were on to Issue 2. Enter Stephon Marbury—the first of a few players who would help define SLAM through the years. I’ve been following HS basketball since I saw Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) play in high school. And if you followed high school hoops in the ’90s and lived in NYC, you know everyone was talking about Stephon Marbury from Lincoln HS in Brooklyn. The Marburys were New York City’s first hoops family. There were three Marbury brothers who came before Stephon, and now it was his turn to be the first Marbury to get to the NBA. The pressure was real, but you would never know it from watching Stephon play. He was the best point guard since four-time All-City player Kenny Anderson. He had to be in SLAM. 

Stephon appeared in two articles in Issue 2 (the one with Shawn Kemp on the cover). The first was for our inaugural SLAM High School All-American team. Stephon made it as a junior, alongside another junior, Kevin Garnett, and seniors Felipe Lopez, Raef LaFrentz and Jerod Ward. Plus, for our first-ever fashion shoot, we wanted to feature Stephon and his teammates at Lincoln. SLAM dug up some hoop apparel for the Lincoln players to wear like they do in GQ. Thankfully, Coach Bobby Hartstein was open to the idea, as insane as it was.

The SLAM team packed up our cameras and subwayed (no Ubers back then) out to Coney Island. This is the first time I met Stephon, and I will never forget it. When we arrived at Lincoln, the principal directed us to his class. Steph was sitting in the front row rocking a POLO hoodie with a fresh haircut in his signature style. We shook hands and just clicked. We bonded right away around basketball and what it meant to both of us. Looking back, I’m sure we both had no idea how it would shape our lives in so many ways. Steph represented a new generation of hoopers influenced by hip-hop that only SLAM could understand. The photo shoot went down without a hitch. If you want to see the spread, check out the SLAM Digital Archive and look for “School Daze” in Issue 2. Not exactly GQ, but way ahead of its time for any sports magazine. 

Stephon continued to play a prominent role in our early days. He was the first SLAM High School Diarist, which began in SLAM 4 (the John Starks cover—our first real cover shoot). I went on to watch most of his games his senior year at Lincoln and saw him finally win his first NYC PSAL championship at the Garden. He was Mr. Basketball in New York. I saw him announce his commitment to Georgia Tech and then watched him go head-to-head against Allen Iverson at MSG. I was at the 1996 NBA Draft when he was picked fourth by the Bucks and then traded to the Timberwolves to team up with KG. The Marbury family had finally made it to the NBA (for the record, 1996 is unquestionably the greatest NBA Draft class ever). SLAM continued to grow with every issue, and Stephon was on a few more covers along the way. He had a great but underappreciated NBA career. He ended up playing in China, where he won three rings. Go watch the documentary A Kid from Coney Island if you want the full story.

Stephon and I speak or text maybe once a year. I was just texting with him while he was in China. He posted a photo on Instagram of him running a clinic. He had his head down, dribbling with his left hand, going hard to the hoop. The same patented move from Lincoln that only Stephon can do. I recognized it immediately and DMed him: “I know that move.” He replied: “Big bro, you know because you saw it live.” If you know, you know. 

The post THE 30 PLAYERS WHO DEFINED SLAM’S 30 YEARS: Stephon Marbury appeared first on SLAM.

And yes, they’re ranked.  

No. 1

Last week messed around and got a triple double/Freakin’ brothers every way like MJ/I can’t believe, today was a good day

— “It Was a Good Day,” Ice Cube

When Cube performs the song now, he switches MJ to Kobe, but this still remains a classic line that everyone knows no matter what age, race or nationality. Who doesn’t love a good day?

No. 2

Real sick, brawl nights, I perform like Mike/Anyone—Tyson, Jordan, Jackson/Action, pack guns, ridiculous

— “Victory,” The Notorious B.I.G.

No. 3

Simple and plain, give me the lane/I’ll throw it down your throat like Barkley

— “Rebel Without a Pause,” Public Enemy

Chuck D shouts out one of his favorite 1990’s NBA players on one of the hardest songs of that era.

No. 4

Just like I’m the king on the microphone, so is Dr. J and Moses Malone

— “Basketball,” Kurtis Blow

No list of this kind would be complete without the inclusion of the OG hoop hip-hop song.

No. 5

It’s Hovi baby you Kobe, maybe Tracy McGrady/Matter fact, you a Harold Miner, JR Rider, washed up on marijuana/Even worse you a Pervis Ellis, you worthless fella

— “Pump It Up (remix),” Jay-Z

Jay washed Joe Budden on his own beat with a couple bars that only true hoop heads will understand.

No. 6

Top baller in every state/In Chi I’m Mike/Boston I’m Kenny/In Miami I’m Timmy and Phoenix I’m Penny

— “What Means the World to You,” Cam’Ron

No. 7

Two shooters by the door and they grippin’ the thirty/That’s why they both got fifty pointers like Mitchell and Murray

— “Nothin Less,” Conway the Machine

No. 8

I used to be jealous of Arron Afflalo/He was the one to follow/He was the only leader foreseeing a brighter tomorrow

— “Black Boy Fly,” Kendrick Lamar

This bar is just the tip of the iceberg for Kendrick, speaking about his friend turned NBA player from Compton. The song shows a level of vulnerability that is not often seen in hip-hop.

No. 9

I got a chopper and a trimmer/Shooting like Jimmer

— “Sure Thing,” Lil Wayne

No. 10

Hip-hop scholars since being knee-high to a duck/The height of Muggsy Bogues, complexion of a hockey puck

— “Steve Biko (Stir it Up),” A Tribe Called Quest (Phife Dawg)

No. 11

Hold up, I ain’t trying to stunt, man/But these Yeezys jumped over the Jumpman/Went from most hated to the champion God flow/I guess that’s a feeling only me and LeBron know

— “New God Flow,” Kanye West

The epitome of talking yo sh$% and backing it up. It was a good run while it lasted.

No. 12

New York is the town and the team is the Knicks

— “One Two Sh**,” A Tribe Called Quest

Phife may be the hip-hop king of sports-related bars. RIP to the 5-foot assassin. 

No. 13

Real G’s move in silence like Giannis

— “Giannis,” Freddie Gibbs

No. 14

If I ain’t in Japan, I’m in the Valley (Valley, ooh)/Or maybe next door in Gary Payton bowling alley (Ooh)

— “Hope I Don’t Go Back,” E-40

A flex isn’t truly a flex if it isn’t true. The Vallejo rapper was actually neighbors with The Glove when he dropped this single.

No. 15

Kobe ’bout to lose a hundred fifty M’s / Kobe my n***a I hate it had to be him / B**ch you wasn’t with me shooting in the gym / (B**ch you wasn’t with me shooting in the gym)

— “Stay Schemin,” Drake

No. 16

She got me back livin’ sweeter, fresh Caesar/Guess, David Robinsons, Wally moccasins

— “Street Dreams,” Nas

No. 17

I was popping blue devils, Coach K ain’t recruit me

— “No Hook,” Dave East

This isn’t just a creative drug reference. East actually played AAU ball with Kevin Durant and Michael Beasley and received a DI scholarship, so this line is actually dope and believable. 

No. 18

See I used to pay Kobe, but now I pay LeBron

— “24-23,” Young Jeezy

No. 19

My team in the cut, packing metal things/I’ve got more foreign shooters than the Sacramento Kings

— “Follow Me Gangster,” Lloyd Banks

In 2003, when Banks dropped this song, Peja Stojakovic was the only foreign shooter on the Kings squad. But it’s still a super slick line.

No. 20

Kobe doin’ work / 2-4 on my shirt / He the greatest on the court / And I’m the greatest on the verse / Going for the fourth ring like it was his first / Gotta get the bling

— “Kobe Bryant,” Lil Wayne

As a huge sports fan, it’s only right that Wayne dedicated an entire song full of clever bars to Bean. 

No. 21

Country n**** never seen a passport/‘Til I popped off and got a bag for it/Now I’m at the Garden sittin’ half court/Watchin Jr. catch it off the backboard

— “Amari,” J.Cole

Dreamville boss Cole shouts out his fellow Fayettteville, NC, native Dennis Smith Jr. 

No. 22

Imma make you see L.A. like Ed O’Bannon

— “Sonset,” Ras Kass

No. 23

But I’m limitless mentally, I’m lyrically ZMT/LeBron shit, I was in that 6 after 23

— “Ambition,” Wale

No. 24

See the shots that I took (ayy), wet like I’m Book (ayy)/Wet like I’m Lizzie

— “SICKO MODE,” Drake

No. 25

I crossover like Steph Curry, crossover like CP/But I will not crossover so n***** can buy the CD

— “Just Another Day,” The Game

No. 26

Now who’s the first pick? Me. Word is born’in/Not a Christian Laettner not Alonzo Mourning

— “Can We Rock (What’s Up Doc),” Shaquille O’Neal aka Shaq-Fu

The beginning of Shaq’s career as a rapper started with this feature on a Fu-Schnickens song. Compared to later disses of fellow players, Zo and Laettner got off easy with this kinder and gentler version of Shaq.

No. 27

27. I’m Killa, you Andre Miller, got a basic game/I told your b**ch to hurry up, we don’t wait for trains

— “Cookin Up,” Cam’Ron

No. 28

And my shot kinda rusty but the fade clean/And me and Steph Curry on the same team

— “Cruising,” Lecrae 

No. 29

I’m Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf/I don’t pledge allegiance I raise the roof

— “Life Gets Brutal,” Heems

No. 30

I was raised to live, Lord I pray you forgive/If not, I just handle it like Jason Kidd

— “You’re Only a Customer,” Jay-Z

No. 31

Life is a journey before I went the rap route/I served ni**** off the bench like Stackhouse

— “Journey,” Cormega

No. 32

I’m slamming n***** like Shaquille, s**t is real /When it’s time to eat a meal, I rob and steal

— “Gimme The Loot,” Notorious B.I.G.

No. 33

From the past to the present, shouting out to the greats/Still love Phi Slama Jama, repping U of H

— “Houston Is,” K-Rino

IYKYK, Rino is a rap legend in the state of Texas. His reminiscent bars shouting out the early 80’s college squad that included Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler show genuine love to his city.

No. 34

And on top it’s lonely so keep your homies right by your side/And if life is short then we’ll be the shorts of the Fab Five

— “The Intro About Nothing,” Wale

No. 35

We back to back, back to back like the Comets

— “Getchya Hands Up,” ESG

Not only is this track a bonafide Texas classic, it is also one of the very few times that a WNBA team has gotten a shout out on a dope record. That’s the kind of love a four-peat championship team should receive!

No. 36

Like Kareem I got the hook up

— “Sum Sh** I Wrote,” Common

No. 37

Motor city technically Rasheed Wallace /Then moved to Chicago for dollars like Ben Wallace

— “Jingling,” Cool Kids 

No. 38

I’m from a place where junkheads and zombies dwell/And n***** keep the heat blazin’ like Bonzi Wells

— “Biscuits,” Trife 

No. 39

Courtside seats, this the big bag/Hit a Ja Morant shot, get ’em big mad

— “Big League,” Yo Gotti

No. 40

With my hair slicked back, I look like Rick Pitino

— “Nana,” Action Bronson

The fact that Bronson has very little hair on his head and bears little to no resemblance to the legendary coach makes this line equally ridiculous and dope. 

No. 41

Big ass shotgun look like Lauri Markkkanen

— “Bloxk Party,” Sada Baby

Well before he had a career year with the Jazz, Detroit rapper Sada Baby shouted out the All-Star forward on his 2018 underground hit.

No. 42

I got a crime record longer than Manute Bol

— “M.V.P.,” Big L

No. 43

Kevin Garnett earrings look like Fiji water

— “Stealing,” Gucci Mane 

No. 44

I got game, but not the hoop court/And plus, basketball’s never really been my sport/I probably woulda made it to the NFL/But I had grams for 50 in my possession to sell

— “Know What I’m Talkin Bout,” Keak Da Sneak 

No. 45

B**ch you ugly like yo daddy Reggie Miller

— “I’m Good,” YG

No. 46

Guaranteed, make ’em jump like Rod Strickland

— “Triumph,” Raekwon

No. 47

Either that or quit it, throw in the chair like you Bobby Knight

— “NBA,” Joe Budden

No. 48

Even if you have braids like Latrell/I got more numbers in my system than Pacific Bell/Pass the basketball around and go tell/Smoother than Rick Fox puttin’ on his hair gel

— “NBA,” Kool Keith

No. 49

I get my hair cut correct like Anthony Mason/Then I ride the IRT right up to Penn Station

— “B-Boys Makin with the Freak Freak,” Beastie Boys

Not the most technical bars, but anything that shows love to A. Mase is all love.

No. 50

We ballin’ like the March Madness

— “March Madness,” Future

Although he isn’t an elite lyricist, it’s hard to front on a song that’s this good and that name checks the biggest college hoops tourney in the world.

Photos via Getty Images, Portrait by Atiba Jefferson.

The post 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop: These are the Most Iconic Basketball References of All-Time appeared first on SLAM.

February 9th 2003. How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days was the number one movie in the world. “All I Have” by Jennifer Lopez featuring LL Cool J was sitting atop the Billboard Hot 100. Kobe Bryant was on the cover of SLAM 66 wearing a jet black Lakers jersey with his three Larry O’Brien trophies. It was a cloudy night in Georgia but even then there were 24 extra stars in the Atlanta sky. On that night at Philips Arena, the NBA hosted its 52nd Annual NBA All-Star Game. 

It was a time before TikTok, NFTs, and NBA Twitter. It’s now 2023 and at times it feels like we’re living in some twisted up future, but at least the game of basketball is still good. 

By the time you’re reading this, the League will be getting ready to host the 72nd Annual All-Star Game in Salt Lake City and if we’re lucky, it’ll be a classic much like Atlanta’s game 20 years prior. Generally speaking, ‘03 is a year strongly etched into the memory of all within the culture. Baggy pants, bulky kicks, triple-layered headwear, spinning rims, Playstation 2… could it have all been so simple then? 

The 2003 NBA All-Star Game was one of the most stacked events of all time, both in star power and personality. Society was reaching a breaking point when individuality, charisma, and style were placed on a similar level as skill. The Western Conference All-Stars included Steve Francis, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, and Yao Ming as starters, with Shaquille O’neal, Shawn Marion, Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, Gary Payton, Stephon Marbury, and Peja Stojakovic coming off the bench. The West was helmed by then-Sacramento Kings head coach, Rick Adelman. Peja was an injury replacement for his teammate Chris Webber.

The Eastern Conference All-Stars included Allen Iverson, Michael Jordan, Tracy McGrady, Jermaine O’Neal, and Ben Wallace as starters, with Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, Paul Pierce, Brad Miller, Jamal Mashburn, Antoine Walker, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas coming off the bench. Isiah Thomas, who coached the Indiana Pacers at the time, led the charge for the East.  

There are a lot of things you may have forgotten about the 2003 NBA All-Star Game. So, allow us to remind you. 

First off, the jerseys. It marked the first time since the ‘90s that the NBA designed and deployed All-Star Game jerseys. In the previous five years, players just wore their own jersey from their respective teams (All-Star Weekend in 1999 was canceled due to the lockout). And the jerseys were fresh as hell. The retro design recalled some of the late ‘80s All-Star Game jerseys, swapping out the short shorts for a baggier option. 

The main focus entering All-Star weekend was Michael Jordan, who was preparing to retire for a third and final time. He was a starter and an All-Star for the 14th time in his career, an accomplishment that didn’t come without its fair share of controversy. Allen Iverson and Vince Carter were both near at the peak of their popularity in 2003 and were voted as the starting backcourt for the Eastern Conference by the fans. Carter had missed a big chunk of games that season as a result of injury and there was a ton of pressure on him to give up his starting spot to Jordan. He resisted the notion for quite some time but he eventually relented and gave up his starting spot to his elder UNC alum just before gametime. The scrutiny turned ugly after a while, and the Atlanta crowd even booed Carter when he was being introduced before the game. 

For the record, Jordan was perfectly fine with coming off the bench. When asked about it during the game, Jordan said, “Vince surprised me. I told him as I told the rest of the players, I started 13 times, I didn’t need to start [a] 14th time. You know, they were adamant about getting me to start. Vince actually came to me right before we went out and said that he would love for me to take his spot. He’s very respectful. I think he took some undue punishment, all during this week about him being very honorable to the fans, and even at the end, when he gave it up, I really didn’t want him to back down from what he actually stood for and I’ve supported him in that sense. But he wanted me to take his spot and I thought it was very gracious of him and very respectful.”

Problem solved, Jordan started. 

Another wrinkle out of the gate was Jordan’s coach for the game, Isiah Thomas, who is arguably Jordan’s biggest rival and definitely his most prevalent foil. If Jordan had a nemesis, it was Zeke (or Jerry Krause). But Thomas had coached the Pacers to the best record in the East by the break, so he was his coach for the night. Infamously, there is a conspiracy that Isiah Thomas led a charge to freeze Jordan out of his first All-Star Game in 1985. Jordan was a rookie and finished the game with seven points on 22.2 percent shooting in a 140-129 loss. And now 18 years, two retirements, and 13 All-Star appearances later, Michael Jordan was the elder statesman in the All-Star Game, with Yao Ming as the lone rookie to participate in the game. 

Jordan, however, was aggressive but wasn’t hot right out of the gates. He started the game 0-7. He began the game only 10 points behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most points in the All-Star game’s  history and the Atlanta crowd was hungry for him to break the record (a record that’s been snapped by the late-Kobe Bryant and LeBron James since then). Each missed attempt by Jordan was followed by hushed sighs of resignation by the crowd but the voracious outbreak when he finally made a jumper was well worth the wait. 

The first quarter was a relatively competitive defensive performance for both sides, the first quarter ended with the East leading 23-18 off the strength of a 13-0 run. Jordan never really got any hotter from the field, but he eventually broke the record and finished with 20 points on 9-27 (33.3 percent) shooting. 

The pace and level of play picked up considerably but the defensive effort faltered in the second quarter when the reserves checked in. The signature playground style of all-star ball had infiltrated every corner of the game and it was fun as hell. A sequence of lobs from Brad Miller to Vince Carter followed by Stephon Marbury to Shawn Marion early in the second quarter was especially electrifying. Shortly afterwards, Dirk Nowitzki went on a mini-heater in two minutes and scored all nine of his points for the night. All-Star games are interesting in that way. Basketball is improvisational like jazz and these are the best artists in the world. You never know when a player might go off onto a solo and strut his shit. 

Rick Adelman decided to indulge every hoops fan everywhere and played a lineup of Francis-Garnett-Duncan-Shaq-Yao. If any lineup with four seven-footers could work in a real game, I feel like this would be the one. Great mix of shooting, passing, mobility, length, and defense. They went on an 8-2 run in just over two minutes to secure a 55-52 lead heading into halftime. 

Halftime was a show in itself. The NBA had orchestrated a tribute for Michael Jordan that involved Mariah Carey coming out and singing in two different Jordan jerseys. She sang “Boy (I Need You)” while wearing a mini-dress styled to look like Jordan’s Bulls jersey. While they played a montage of Jordan highlights, Seinfeld clips, Gatorade commercials, SNL monologues, and Spike Lee poetics, Mariah Carey changed into a floor-length dress designed after Jordan’s Wizards jersey.

Mariah Carey gave chilling renditions of “My Saving Grace” and “Hero” at the center of a stage placed on the court. Jordan was moved to tears during the performance and Mariah Carey introduced Jordan to the crowd for an opportunity to address them. It took the standing ovation over a minute to calm down enough for Jordan to even get any real words out. When he could finally speak, he tearfully thanked the fans, his family, and expressed his gratitude for being able to pass the game along to the next generation. Much of the next generation was sharing the floor with him in this game and they’d determine how it would end. 

 If basketball is jazz, Tracy McGrady’s third quarter was like Miles Davis at his peak. He was cashing jumpers from all over the court and making daring forays to the cup, it was very clear why he was arguably the best scorer in the world at that moment. Iverson got it going as well with the pass-first Jason Kidd by his side in the backcourt to start the half rather than Michael Jordan. For the West, Kevin Garnett continued his impressive play on both ends of the floor. He hardly missed anything and remained a conduit of unbridled energy. Kobe got it going as well after pretty much sleepwalking through the first half.  

In the third, Shaq was throwing Jordan’s layup back to the three-point line. The crowd booed Shaq for hampering their hero but the East largely controlled the third quarter, eking out a 93-86 lead heading into the final frame. 

As usual the fourth quarter was more competitive than the rest of the game. Shaq dominated the reserve minutes but most of the Eastern Conference starters remained on the floor, even at the beginning of the quarter. Both of the Boston Celtics young guys, Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker, complained about the lack of playing time they received in the game. Zydrunas Ilgauskas of the Cleveland Cavaliers did not publicly complain but he only played four minutes. Isiah Thomas met all complaints with a closed ear, “it’s my team” he commented.   

Michael Jordan is one of the clutchest players in NBA history, if not the most clutch. He had won games, and championships, with his elite shot making ability with the game on the line. With 10.1 seconds left and the game tied at 120 a piece, and a young Shawn Marion on him with overtime looming, Jordan posted up in complete isolation. He took a few dribbles in the midpost, then turned over his shoulder and shot his patented turnaround jumper. He missed. The crowd sighed as it clanged off the rim. Overtime, the sixth instance this happened in All-Star game history. 

And then it’d eventually go into double overtime—the first time in NBA All-Star game history. 

Isiah Thomas must have felt guilty about the lack of minutes allocated to his bench players (along with the starters probably being exhausted with the extra basketball time on this night) because he put in a few guys who hadn’t seen many minutes down the stretch to start double OT. The West quickly jumped out to a lead and never relinquished it again. Garnett dominated against the smaller East lineup, finishing with 37 points on 70.8 percent shooting. The West held on to win the game 155-145 despite Iverson’s best efforts. 

The game came to a close with the usual procession of handshakes, hugs, and high-fives, as the players rushed to get off to a night on the Atlanta streets. Peace to mankind, it was a beautiful time to be alive. 

Photos via Getty Images.

The post Here’s a Look Back at the 2003 NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta  appeared first on SLAM.

The three-time All-Star was simply dominant on Tuesday, calmly dropping a franchise-record 60-point triple-double against the New York Knicks. Doncic officially posted 60 points (team record 21-31 shooting), 21 rebounds, and 10 assists, breaking Hall-of-Famer Dirk Nowitzki’s (53 points) team record as a Maverick. Luka Legend also set a career-high for points and boards during his epic Tuesday night outing.

Doncic has matched James Harden for the highest-scoring triple-double in NBA history, who accomplished the historic feat on Jan. 30, 2018, against the Orlando Magic. NBA legends Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor are the only other hoopers to grab at least 20 boards while posting a 50-point triple-double.

“I’m tired as hell,” a smiling Doncic said during his postgame TV interview. “I need a recovery beer.”

“I need a recovery beer.”

60 pts, 21 reb, 10 ast tonight. Well earned, Luka. : @Sean_Daniel01 pic.twitter.com/G2HjuLNPMV

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 28, 2022

According to Callie Caplan of the Dallas Morning News, Luka Legend celebrated his legendary 60-burger with some water, a protein shake, and a beer while watching some NBA TV highlights, and of course, he scrolled through his phone.

“To do something that’s never been done before, that’s hard to do,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said per ESPN. “There’s been some great players before him. Elgin Baylor and Wilt, he was in that class, and then he separated himself and made his own class.”

Happy to hoop. : @Sean_Daniel01 pic.twitter.com/rCHl0qgtyt

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 28, 2022

Now for the nitty gritty. Dallas is now the first team in at least two decades to win after trailing by at least nine points in the final 35 seconds. According to ESPN, teams in that situation were 0-13,884 in the last 20 years. The reason behind that feat? Doncic scored 38 points in the second-half and helped Dallas claw back from a 12-point deficit.

Doncic forced overtime after purposefully bricking a free throw, corralling the loose ball, and putting up a double-clutch fade away. From there, Doncic scored Dallas’ only field goal in overtime, but he knocked down five of his six free throw opportunities to help the Mavericks escape with an exhausting win.

“I promise I was trying for sure,” Knicks guard Quentin Grimes said, the primary defender on Doncic. “I mean, I’m trying to get over every pick-and-roll. He’s in almost every action. It was a lot on me trying to get over every pick-and-roll with him. He’s crafty with the ball, without the ball. Have to know where he is at all times on the court. He’s one of the top three players in the league for a reason. I have to tip my hat.”

Another for YOU pic.twitter.com/EWkH4RLsqP

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) December 28, 2022

Dallas can build on this win when they host the Rockets on Thursday.

The post Luka Doncic is ‘Tired as Hell’ After Historic 60-Point Triple-Double Performance appeared first on SLAM.

In fact, he’d spent the four years before his NBA arrival as a teenager playing for Real Madrid against the best competition in Europe. In 2018, fresh off a EuroLeague title and MVP performance, he decided he was ready to make the jump to the best League on the planet. He landed his first SLAM cover with a story that proclaimed him the best international prospect of all time. Four seasons in, it’s hard to argue.

Drafted by Atlanta, he quickly found himself in Dallas thanks to a draft-night trade for his fellow Starting Lineup teammate, Trae Young. Once in Big D, the 19-year-old rookie immediately looked like a seasoned veteran. He was a full-time starter from Day 1 and finished his debut season as Rookie of the Year. Somehow, he’s only gotten better since.

He was nothing less than dazzling in his second season with the Mavs, averaging just shy of 29 points and 9 assists and pulling down better than 9 rebounds a game—all numbers that have gone up in his postseason runs. Now, in his fifth season, he has established himself as an MVP candidate for the foreseeable future. And part of the fun is that he knows it.

Not many guys can get away with laughing like Luka does on the court. When he’s rolling, hitting long threes, getting to the basket, shaking defenders with his handle or bullying them with his size, Luka can’t help but let fans and defenders alike know he’s enjoying himself. When he’s on his game, he looks unstoppable.

Hard as it is to believe now, Luka had his share of skeptics before he landed in the NBA. For some reason, they weren’t sure his game would translate to the States—as if size, shooting, court vision, passing, clutch play and mastery of the pick and roll were somehow only valuable on the other side of the Atlantic. Apparently, those folks hadn’t been watching tape. Or maybe they just didn’t see what should have been obvious.

It’s impossible to miss now. His game continues to draw favorable comparisons to some of the best and most versatile players in NBA history, from Magic Johnson to Jason Kidd to LeBron James. That last one is fitting: Luka has said his favorite player growing up in Slovenia was LeBron. And just last season, LeBron called Luka his favorite player in the League today. They say game recognizes game. In this case, it’s not a stretch to say greatness recognizes greatness. 

The post Starting Lineup’s Luka Doncic NBA Action Figure Showcases the Dominance of the Mavericks Superstar appeared first on SLAM.

The coolest MFer in the NBA scored 28 points on 8-16 from three, reaching 13,000 career points and catapulting himself into the No. 13 spot on the all-time made 3-pointers list. Thompson passed Jason Kidd and Dirk Nowitzki with a total of 1,989 threes. 

“Grew up loving both those guys, especially Dirk because he’s a shooter and JK, just as a baller, Bay legend,” Thompson told reporters per Yahoo. “So yeah, it means a lot to me. I don’t take that for granted. Two of the all-time greats right there, so that means a lot to me.”

After missing consecutive seasons with a torn Achilles and ACL, the Golden State guard has been vocal about how his appreciation of the game has grown. Fellow Splash Bro and all-time made three-pointer king Stephen Curry echoed Thompson and expressed his hope that more people stop to appreciate the milestone.

Rather than taking Thompson’s shooting for granted and calling this moment just “a matter of time,” Curry wants fans to understand that “just being able to play these games after what he’s been through is amazing and something that you shouldn’t just gloss over,” Curry hopes Thompson continues to climb up the list.

“There will be a lot of respect for him as a shooter, him as a clutch guy, to knock it down no matter where he’s at. He set a high standard for what shooting the basketball is in today’s game.”

Let’s enjoy and appreciate Thompson’s milestone with a few clips of shooting beauty:

The post Lucky 13’s: Klay Thompson Climbs Up All-Time Made Three-Pointers List in Warriors Loss appeared first on SLAM.

While Brunson is averaging 21.3 points and 6.5 assists at a career-best rate for NY, the Mavericks have fallen short of expectations in the first quarter of the season. Other than Luka Magic – the Slovenian is averaging 33.6 points (1st in the League), 8.7 assists (4th in the League), and 8.7 rebounds a contest – the Mavs offense has struggled, resulting in an unsettling record under .500.

A Western Conference Finals team last season, Dallas fans and critics alike have searched for critical shortcomings in the team’s current makeup and performance. General manager Nico Harrison spoke with Dallas News and broke down his perspective on the Mavs’ slow start. 

Mav’s shooters aren’t shooting well:

Harrison believes a core component of their losses is their failure to knock down shots. The shooting struggles have led to Dallas dropping games to Detroit (6-18 record), Orlando (5-17), Houston (5-16), and OKC (9-13). They’ve failed to execute on the road; their drive-and-kick offense is struggling to produce. Doncic is the offense’s engine as both the primary drive-and-kicker and scorer, and Harrison wants to see shooters ease Doncic’s workload by doing a better job of finishing plays. 

Although “not resigning Jalen (Brunson) wasn’t [their] choice,” the GM has no regrets:

The front office received heavy criticism for a) not resigning Brunson and b) not pursuing other point guards in free agency after losing Brunson. The Mavs undoubtedly feel his loss. However, Harrison has no regrets. 

“I have faith in the guys that we have here. Again, guys haven’t made shots, but we’ve seen them do it, and I have faith in them. I think if guys make shots just at the rate or slightly below what they normally do, we’re not even having this conversation. I think that erases a lot of the doubt or the feeling that we’re not quite achieving what the expectations would’ve been. The law of averages, they eventually equal out, and guys will make shots.”

Josh Green and Kemba Walker are two bright spots:

In his third season in the League, Josh Green is stepping up as a solid role player for Dallas. VP of Basketball Operations Michael Finley called Green the “MVP of the summer.” Harrison added, “he was in the gym working hard, and you can see. You see the production that he’s had. Not surprised. Happy for him. Happy for us, too, but more for him.”

Additionally, the Mavs signed Kemba Walker earlier this week. Harrison has no expectations for Kemba and simply hopes his body holds up and he brings a veteran presence to the team. The GM called Kemba an “amazing person.”

“I think that’s the point. He’s an amazing person. He’s been through everything in the League. He obviously can handle the ball, and everybody knows he’s an ex-All-Star. I won’t even say ex-All-Star. He’s an All-Star. He’s a scorer. Adding that veteran presence for if and when we need it ready will be helpful.”

The turn-around point is coming:

Harrison urged Dallas fans to be patient and reminded them that last year the Mavs opened the season 9-14 and finished as Western Conference runners-up. A spark can come at any point, and the GM believes “it’s just a matter of us turning the corner, and it’s going to happen sooner than later.”

“I don’t think it’s an external thing. Our team — they’re connected, they’re together. Like, they’re still even though it’s a different team than last year, there’s still a lot of remnants from last year. They’re still very connected.”

The post GM Nico Harrison Hopeful Despite Mavs’ 10-11 Start to Season appeared first on SLAM.

Doncic was in his bag last night, scorching the visiting Golden State Warriors with his hot hand and impressive playmaking abilities. Doncic sealed the 116-113 victory with 41 points shooting 14-27 (51.9 percent) from the field, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists.

Unreal performance from Luka.

41 PTS, 12 REB, 12 AST, 4 STL.

(via @nba) pic.twitter.com/2YBzHUSDVB

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 30, 2022

This is Doncic’s third 40+ point triple-double this season, and every other player in the League currently has zero. Performances like what we witnessed last night on national television are why many would agree that Doncic is a front-runner for MVP this year. I mean, with the way he has been playing at such a high level, how could you argue against him right now?

“It’s getting boring,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd jokingly told ESPN postgame. “I mean, let’s see something different. Maybe do it with his left hand. I’m just joking. Look, he’s one of the best in the world, and that’s what he does. Some of us can take him for granted. The man is special.”

Warriors Superstar Stephen Curry also chimed in postgame with some high praise for Doncic as well;

“His size and his ball-handling skills keep you on edge the entire game, that plus him being a three-level scorer, you’ve got to worry about everything,” Curry said. “Then obviously, his court vision is unreal. It’s an offensive package of being a playmaker and scorer, and when he’s knocking down shots like he did tonight, it’s tough. You want to take something away from him, but he can make play after play.”

Tuesday’s game just continues to add to what has been a spectacular season for Doncic, whose performance yesterday also landed him in the history books. Doncic is now the sixth player in NBA history to record five or more 40-point triple-doubles. The five other big names he joins on that list are Oscar Robertson, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Wilt Chamberlain, and LeBron James.

In addition to his new piece of NBA history, Doncic made franchise history after tying Dirk Nowitzki’s franchise record for most 40-point games as a Maverick.

There just doesn’t seem to be anything anyone in the League can do to stop Doncic. With the All-Star break quietly approaching, we will just have to wait to see if Doncic and the Mavericks can continue to sustain their current level of play.

The post Jason Kidd On Taking Luka Doncic ‘for Granted’ After His 40-Point Triple-Double appeared first on SLAM.

The Bucks started 9-0 out the gate but have gone 5-5 over their last ten contests. On Sunday, the good vibes came out after the Bucks held on for a wire-to-wire victory over the Mavericks, who lost their fourth consecutive contest. Allen finished the game with 25 points on 80 percent shooting. He also had five assists, two steals, and one block. 

“The hoop looked huge,” Allen said per ESPN.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo had his usual outstanding performance as well. He led all scorers with 30 points on 57.9 percent shooting, 11 rebounds, and four dimes. Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd was complimentary of how Antetokounmpo and Allen’s games complimented each other last night. 

“He was on fire,” Kidd said. “We gave him a lot of great looks, and he knocked them down. Giannis put pressure on the rim, and we just couldn’t get to their shooters.”

The Milwaukee Bucks shot 17/37 from behind the arc, matching their season-high mark for made three-pointers. Allen’s sizzling shot-making led this in the first half, but Antetokounmpo was ardent about ensuring the other parts of Allen’s game were also acknowledged. 

“He’s not just a good shooter,” Antetokounmpo said. “If you’re sleeping and you’re being lazy, he’s going to drive the ball, drive the close-out and go and dunk it. It just makes him dangerous. As much as they respect the 3, they’ve got to respect the drive also.”

Coming into the game, it was touted as a battle between two MVP candidates, Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic. Despite spectacular performances from both, Allen completely stole the show, which may be enough to get Milwaukee’s season back on track. 

The post Grayson Allen’s Hot Shooting Starts Lifts Milwaukee Over Dallas appeared first on SLAM.

Last night’s 116-109 victory versus the Golden State Warriors was a huge statement win for Miami, as Kyle Lowry (13 points, nine assists, five rebounds) made history, passing Jason Kidd for 12th on the NBA’s all-time made three-pointers list after going 3-8 from beyond the arc. The Heat’s sharpshooters Max Strus and Duncan Robinson also came alive off the bench to combine for 41 points to power Miami to the win!

Lowry finished the game with 13 points on 50 percent shooting (5-10), nine assists, and five rebounds. The Strus got loose and went for 24 points to lead the team in scoring, making eight of his seventeen shots and shooting forty percent from deep. Then the icing on the cake was Robinson, who contributed 17 points on 62.5 percent shooting from three.

“For us to get a win like that is huge for us with how our season has gone thus far,” Strus said in a postgame interview with Bally Sports Sun’s Will Manso. “To grind one out, out of the mud, and win one like that is huge for our confidence, and hopefully, it pushes our momentum forward.”

Manso also caught up with Robinson postgame and asked about the Heat’s “next man up” mentality. Robinson had this to say following his hot shooting night;

“We’re a deep team, so somebody goes down, different guys are going to step up and try to contribute.”

Miami seems to be heating up at the right time and is looking to keep things rolling tonight versus the Sacramento Kings at home. There are still a lot of games left, which means that the Heat can only continue to improve from here on out.

The post Kyle Lowry Moves Up to 12th On All-Time Made Three Pointers List appeared first on SLAM.

Morant doesn’t remind Durant of any other player.

“He’s a unique player. A lot of athleticism and creativity out there. Body type reminds you of somebody like—well, he’s taller than A.I. [Allen Iverson], but a wiry, strong player — but he’s an incredible player, man,” Durant said per Bleacher Report.

The Murray State product lived up to Durant’s pregame praise with 38 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and two steals in a 134-124 Memphis win. Morant, Durant, Desmond Bane, and Kyrie Irving combined to score 150 points on 62 percent shooting from the field.

At just 23-years-old, Morant has the rest of the NBA on watch.

A 2022 All-Star and the NBA’s Most Improved Player, the guard led the Grizzlies to second in the Western Conference last season. Morant has averaged 35.3 points, 7.0 assists, and 4.3 rebounds this season while leading the Grizzlies to a 3-1 start. Memphis ousted the Nets, Houston Rockets, and New York Knicks but fell to Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks.

Durant’s teammate Ben Simmons spoke on 12 before their Monday night match-up. The duel between Simmons and Morant ended late in the fourth quarter after the 2022 All-Star baited Simmons into fouling out as the Grizzlies inbounded the ball.

“He is an incredible athlete — He pushes the pace, gets his team going, shares the ball. He’s relentless at the rim.”

The Morant magic continues Thursday Night versus the Sacramento Kings.

The post Kevin Durant Calls Ja Morant ‘The Face of Our League Going Forward’ appeared first on SLAM.

Whether a player says it or not, going against a former team is always a big deal. However, it is an even bigger deal to make history against them. With about 10:50 left in the first quarter, Paul threw up a lob that Deandre Ayton slammed home to give Paul the 11,000th assist in his career!

With that assist, Paul now sits in the company of two other elite point guards, Jason Kidd and John Stockton, who are the only three players in the NBA to accomplish this feat. Record-wise, Stockton is still the all-time NBA assist leader with 15,806, followed by Kidd with 12,091, and CP3 with 11,009.

“I honestly didn’t have a clue until I checked out of the game,” Paul said when asked when he found out about his historic achievement.

Paul then went on to credit a few of his teammates.

“I’ve been fortunate to play for a while now with a lot of great shooters, great players in general,” Paul then reeled a couple of names such as David West, Peja Stojakovic, and Devin Booker. “I’m privileged.”

Suns Coach Monty Williams even chimed in on Paul’s historic night.

“It’s amazing, I look at him, and I’m like, ‘holy smokes, I get to coach Chris Paul.'”

In addition, Paul is now the only NBA player in history to have over 20k points and 11k assists. That is a record fit for a true Point God. It is about time we gave Paul his flowers and credit for playing the point guard position with such finesse, craftiness, and humbleness. Shout out to CP3! We are all looking forward to seeing how far Phoenix can go with such a great vet on their squad.

The post Chris Paul Becomes the First Player in NBA History to Record 20k Points and 11k Assists appeared first on SLAM.

Every time Doncic fell hard during a game or got bumped, Dorian Finney-Smith had a completely relatable thought process, yelling at Doncic through the tv to “get up” or “get him out of there” during physical moments. The Mavericks coaching staff felt the same way as they watched the 23-year-old MVP candidate play in the international tournament.

”We’re going to start a little light,” Coach Jason Kidd said per the Dallas Morning News. “But as we all know, in this room, Luka loves to play basketball, so he’s ready to go, and he’ll probably tell you that today. But we want just to start slow.

“This is a marathon. He just got done playing [for Slovenia]. But anytime he sees the game plan for practice, and he sees scrimmage, he’s ready to play.”

Doncic first reported to the Slovenian national team in mid-June, two weeks after the Mavericks dropped the Western Conference to the eventual champion Golden State Warriors. After he prepared and played in two FIBA World Cup games in early July, he took a month off before playing in the Eurobasket tournament.

Luka Legend averaged 26 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per EuroBasket game — the only player to rank in the top-10 for each category in the tournament — and played 233 of a possible 280 minutes through Slovenia’s outings. Doncic played more minutes per game during Eurobasket (35.6 minutes per game) than when he played with the Mavericks (35.4 minutes per game). International games are 40 minutes long vs. 48 in the NBA.

Between Eurobasket and flying back to Dallas for Media Day and training camp, Doncic had eight full days of rest. When Kidd and Doncic met up at Dallas legend DirNowitzki’s celebrity charity tennis tournament, Kidd told Doncic that he won’t participate fully in training camp, and would take a ramp-up approach as camp took place. This is the plan of action because Dallas doesn’t want to fatigue Doncic too much to start the season.

“Luka’s in a great place,” Kidd said. “You can see his spirit is high. He’s smiling. He feels great. He looks great; he’s ready to play — We ask a lot of him, and we have to — as a staff and teammates — try to find a way to make it easier for him; that’s going to be a great challenge that everyone’s up for.”

Doncic also revealed that his injured wrist had healed as well as the stitches in his head after he got elbowed by a French big man during Slovenia’s game against France. He told reporters with a smile that he’s “good now” and has the same season individual goals as always.

“Always the goal is the same for me, for the team we’re trying to win the championship,” Doncic said. “That’s the only goal we have, and that’s what we’re going to work for.”

The post Mavericks Plan to Start Luka Doncic ‘a Little Light’ to Start the Season appeared first on SLAM.

As the starting point guard on Coach Jason Kidds WCF-finalist team, Brunson averaged 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds. and 3.7 assists per game on 46.6 percent shooting from the field and 34.7 percent from beyond the arc. When Brunson and his representatives negotiated his $104 million deal, Kidd said he was happy the Villanova product got the deal.

“The biggest thing is I’m happy he got paid,’’ Kidd said on the “All the Smoke’’ podcast. “He helped us. I know [Mavericks owner Mark] Cuban doesn’t like this, but I love when I can get a player get paid.’’

This last season, Brunson emerged as Dallas’ second-best player behind Luka Doncic, forming a dynamic tandem that will leave Dallas fans asking “what-if?”The memories of Dallas’ first WCF-run since winning the 2011 title will last a lifetime for some fans.

“I tell a player on the first day of camp, ‘Tell me what you want,’ ” Kidd said. “Everyone wants shots. Everyone wants minutes. But that’s not the truth. They want to get paid and want to play.”

“Cool. I can help you do that. The other part of that is I’m going to ask for a couple of things. Trust, communicate and play hard. If you ask Brunson, he will tell you he listened [to me], and good things happened. I just want to put people in position to be successful.’’

With the departure of Brunson to New York, Dallas will look to replace Brunson with Spencer Dinwiddie at the floor general position.

The Knicks are being investigated for allegedly tampering with Brunson before free agency began. The Knicks are reportedly likely to be punished by forfeiting a draft pick. Brunson reportedly had no interest in hearing Dalass’ counteroffer while he was on vacation in Jamaica with his family, fully intent on signing in Dallas.

“There’s 30 companies in the NBA,’’ Kidd said. “We all can’t stay in the same company. For him to go to New York to get paid and an opportunity to run his own team. I’m happy for him.’’

The post Jason Kidd on Jalen Brunson Leaving for New York: ‘I Love When I Can Get a Player Get Paid’ appeared first on SLAM.

But Ime Udoka did that in his first go-around as the big dog of the Celtics, leading Boston from a .500 start in the first 50 games of the season to a 26-6 finish over the final 32 games of the season. The Celtics also finished the regular season with the best defense in the League and remained the best among active teams in the playoffs.

It hasn’t always been sunshine and rainbow for Udoka. Despite serving as an assistant under Gregg Popovich, Brett Brown, and Steve Nash, the 44-year-old took several interviews but was told no by several teams — like Detroit, Indiana, and Cleveland —before Boston took a chance on him.

“I can go down the list. That was tough because I believe I was ready. But I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of an organization that’s pushing for winning and championships. You can be in a lot of different situations. There are only 30 teams, and I get that, but to not be in a rebuild and being in an expectation pressure-filled situation, I wouldn’t trade that in any day.” Udoka told Yahoo Sports.

When Udoka took on the Boston job following Brad Stevens’ abrupt resignation after eight seasons for a front-office gig, he did so while facing one central question. Could Boston afford to ask a first-year head coach to lead the Celtics where Stevens couldn’t?

“The one thing I would say is the disappointment of coming in second a few years really hurt,” Udoka said after the Celtics defeated the Miami Heat in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals on Sunday. “But if you told me I’d have to wait for Boston and get [bypassed] by some of the ones that I got beat out on, it’s a no-brainer for me. I’m happy to be in Boston.”

In just one year, Udoka proved that he could. He’s proven himself to be a defensive mastermind, excellent communicator, and one of the brightest faces in the coaching profession. Udoka is tops amongst the record-high 15 black head coaches in the NBA right now, the most at any point in League history.

“I mean, the proof is in the pudding,” Celtics star Jaylen Brown told Yahoo Sports. “Look around the League. Now you’re starting to see what we can do in the coaching ranks. Before, the talk was that certain people of color were not qualified to do their jobs or whatever the excuse was. Man, you give these guys an opportunity, and look what they did with it. First-year head coach Ime Udoka took us to the Finals. Look at Monty Williams in Phoenix; look at Dallas with Jason Kidd. You look at all these coaches around the League, and I’m happy to see that they’re finally getting an opportunity. Black coaches and people of color are deserving, and they’re capable of getting the job done just like anybody else.”

While Udoka will get plenty of credit for guiding the Celtics to a massive turnaround in the second-half of the season and directing a top-ranked defense, he also deserves flowers for empowering Jayson Tatum and Brown despite talk around Beantown that Brad Stevens should break up the Brown-Tatum connection. Something Brown acknowledges was hard to ignore.

The NBA Finals begin Thursday, with the Warriors hosting Game 1 in San Francisco. The Warriors have a combined 123 games of experience compared to the 0 the Celtics have played. This is also their sixth Finals appearance in six years. With that insight, it makes sense that Udoka, Brown, and the Celtics have embraced being underdogs in the title series.

“We’ve been who we’ve been all year, and our defense travels well and carried us through the playoffs,” Udoka told Yahoo Sports. “We’ve played Golden State well this year. We blasted them at their place, had a tough loss at our place early in the season. And so it’s a new series. We know who we are and the things we do well, so we’re confident in that.”

“The Warriors are a tough team to play against,” Brown told Yahoo Sports. “They’re smart, experienced, and they’ve got a lot of firepower. I’m excited and looking forward to the challenge.”

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We’re gonna keep it real though: this list was pretty tough to put together. It was mostly guided by the idea that the way to measure the true quality of a team is to think about how much better they were than everyone else they played against. Some decent team in the 2000s would almost definitely destroy an excellent team from the ’70s if we teleported all of the players into the same dimension and let them go at it, but that’s not how this works. This is about dominating your era. Read here for No. 75-66, and 65-55.

Here’s our top 55-44 best teams of all time:

54. 1978-79 Seattle Supersonics

Coach: Lenny Wilkens

Record: 52-30

Roster: Dennis Awtrey, Fred Brown, Lars Hansen, Joe Hassett, Dennis Johnson, John Johnson, Tom LaGarde, Jackie Robinson, Lonnie Shelton, Jack Sikma, Paul Silas, Dick Snyder, Wally Walker, Gus Williams

For the greatest team in franchise history, it was all about balance. Seven players averaged double-figures for Seattle in ’78-79, led by the high-powered young backcourt duo of Gus Williams (19.2 ppg) and Dennis Johnson (15.9 ppg), while second-year big man Jack Sikma held it down in the paint to the tune of 15.6 and 12.4 per game. The Sonics rode that young core to the Finals, where they dropped the series opener in Washington before taking four straight from the Bullets.

53. 1974-75 Golden State Warriors

Coach: Al Attles

Record: 48-34

Roster: Rick Barry, Butch Beard, Steve Bracey, Bill Bridges, Derrek Dickey, Charles Dudley, Charles Johnson, George Johnson, Frank Kendrick, Jeff Mullins, Clifford Ray, Phil Smith, Jamaal Wilkes

Rick Barry led the NBA in free-throw percentage and steals in ’74-75, League-leading numbers
to go along with a casual 30.6 ppg, 6.2 apg and 5.7 rpg. The Dubs were solid, with silky-smooth rookie Jamaal Wilkes averaging 14.2 ppg and a steady backcourt pairing of Butch Beard and Charles Johnson. But it was Barry, a decade into a spectacular career, who carried Golden State to a Finals sweep of the Bullets for the franchise’s first championship since relocating to the Bay.

52. 1987-88 Los Angeles Lakers

Coach: Pat Riley

Record: 62-20

Roster: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tony Campbell, Michael Cooper, AC Green, Magic Johnson, Jeff Lamp, Wes Matthews, Kurt Rambis, Byron Scott, Mike Smrek, Billy Thompson, Mychal Thompson, Ray Tolbert, Milt Wagner, James Worthy

It had been 19 years since an NBA champion successfully defended its title, so when Pat Riley guaranteed his Lakers would do just that after the ’87 Finals, the pressure was on. If not for Isiah Thomas’ injured ankle, Detroit might have made Riley a liar, but don’t tell a Laker fan that the last title of the Showtime era was a fluke. James Worthy confirmed his Hall of Fame bona fides with a 36-point triple-double in Game 7 to ensure his coach’s guarantee held up.

51. 2020-21 Milwaukee Bucks

Coach: Mike Budenholzer

Record: 46-26

Roster: Jaylen Adams, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, DJ Augustin, Elijah Bryant, Pat Connaughton, Torrey Craig, Mamadi Diakite, Donte DiVincenzo, Bryn Forbes, Jrue Holiday, Justin Jackson, Rodions Kurucs, Brook Lopez, Sam Merrill, Khris Middleton, Jordan Nwora, Bobby Portis, Jeff Teague, Axel Toupane, PJ Tucker, DJ Wilson

You can focus on the pandemic-shortened schedule, or the placement of Kevin Durant’s toe, but as time passes, what people will remember about the ’20-21 season will mostly come down to one dude: Giannis. A two-time League MVP who still faced skeptics who said he couldn’t produce when it mattered most, Antetokounmpo did just that, first against KD and the Nets (31.9 ppg, 12.9 rpg) in a seven-game Eastern Conference Semifinal thriller, then even more impressively against the Suns (35.2, 13.2) in the Finals.

50. 2009-10 Los Angeles Lakers

Coach: Phil Jackson

Record: 57-25

Roster: Ron Artest, Shannon Brown, Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum, Jordan Farmar, Derek Fisher, Pau Gasol, DJ Mbenga, Adam Morrison, Lamar Odom, Josh Powell, Sasha Vujacic, Luke Walton

It was Kobe’s team, but even prime Kobe knew he couldn’t do it alone. In 2010, with a title to defend and a matchup with the hated Celtics in the Finals, the Lakers’ star once again relied on the steadiness of Pau Gasol (18.6 ppg, 11.3 rpg), and got invaluable defense and clutch play from a resurgent Ron Artest. “Kobe passed me the ball!” the man now known as Metta Sandiford-Artest said after hitting a title-sealing three late in Game 7. Every Laker fan shared his joy.

49. 1973-74 Boston Celtics

Coach: Tom Heinsohn

Record: 56-26

Roster: Don Chaney, Dave Cowens, Steve Downing, Hank Finkel, Phil Hankinson, John Havlicek, Steve Kuberski, Don Nelson, Paul Silas, Paul Westphal, Jo Jo White, Art Williams

Russell and Cousy were retired, Red Auerbach was no longer on the bench, and it had been five long years since the Celtics last hung a banner from the Garden rafters. But with John Havlicek (22.6 ppg) still around and young Dave Cowens (19 ppg, 15.7 rpg) already looking like a future Hall of Famer, Boston decided five years was long enough. They needed seven games to take down Kareem, Oscar and the Bucks, but soon enough, Red was lighting that stogie once again.

48. 2010-11 Dallas Mavericks

Coach: Rick Carlisle

Record: 57-25

Roster: Alexis Ajinca, JJ Barea, Rodrigue Beaubois, Corey Brewer, Caron Butler, Brian Cardinal, Tyson Chandler, Brendan Haywood, Dominique Jones, Jason Kidd, Ian Mahinmi, Shawn Marion, Steve Novak, Dirk Nowitzki, Sasha Pavlovic, DeShawn Stevenson, Peja Stojakovic, Jason Terry

There was still a sense that calling Dirk Nowitzki “the greatest European player of all time” was sort of a diss. Nobody doubted his production, but plenty of people questioned whether he could be that dude when it mattered. All questions were answered that June: With help from a veteran supporting cast that included Jason Terry, Shawn Marion, Tyson Chandler and 37-year-old Jason Kidd, Dirk averaged 26 points and 9.7 rebounds in the Finals to dispatch the Heatles and confirm his spot among the all-time greats.

47. 2005-06 Miami Heat

Coach: Stan Van Gundy, Pat Riley

Record: 52-30

Roster: Derek Anderson, Shandon Anderson, Earl Barron, Michael Doleac, Gerald Fitch, Udonis Haslem, Jason Kapono, Alonzo Mourning, Shaquille O’Neal, Gary Payton, James Posey, Wayne Simien, Dwyane Wade, Antoine Walker, Matt Walsh, Jason Williams, Dorell Wright

A decade dominated by the Lakers and Spurs didn’t leave much room for Eastern Conference contenders, but in ’06, a Miami team loaded with loose parts and a wild array of past-their-prime big-name vets coalesced around a dynamic third-year guard from Marquette. Sure, Dwyane Wade benefitted from some friendly officiating in a Finals matchup that Dirk and the Mavs are probably still mad about, but mostly, Flash earned what he got in leading the Heat out of a 0-2 Finals hole and on to the title.

46. 2003-04 Detroit Pistons

Coach: Larry Brown

Record: 54-28

Roster: Chucky Atkins, Chauncey Billups, Elden Campbell, Hubert Davis, Tremaine Fowlkes, Darvin Ham, Richard Hamilton, Lindsey Hunter, Mike James, Darko Milicic, Mehmet Okur,  Tayshaun Prince, Zeljko Rebraca, Bob Sura, Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, Corliss Williamson

Larry Brown talked all the time about playing basketball “the right way,” but he had never
won a title until the Pistons hit the League with their stifling defense. Sure, Richard Hamilton was a potent scorer, Chauncey Billups was good all year (especially in the Finals win over the Lakers) and the mid-year arrival of Rasheed Wallace was huge. But the embodiment of Detroit was lunch-pail center Ben Wallace, whose relentless approach keyed a championship.

45. 1998-99 San Antonio Spurs

Coach: Gregg Popovich

Record: 37-13

Roster: Antonio Daniels, Tim Duncan, Mario Elie, Sean Elliott, Andrew Gaze, Jaren Jackson, Avery Johnson, Steve Kerr, Jerome Kersey, Gerard King, Will Perdue, David Robinson, Malik Rose, Brandon Williams

It was the post-Bulls era and a lockout-shortened season, but the Spurs were ascendant. Their first championship team featured the Tim Duncan-David Robinson interior axis, one of the few times a twin towers configuration had enjoyed supreme success. Avery Johnson ran the team, Mario Elie hit big shots and locked down opposing high scorers, while Sean Elliott was a do-everything type who fit in perfectly. The Spurs lost just two games the entire postseason.

44. 1994-95 Houston Rockets

Coach: Ruddy Tomjanovich

Record: 47-35

Roster: Tim Breaux, Scott Brooks, Chucky Brown, Adrian Caldwell, Sam Cassell, Pete Chilcutt, Clyde Drexler, Mario Elie, Carl Herrera, Robert Horry, Charles Jones, Vernon Maxwell, Tracy Murray, Hakeem Olajuwon, Kenny Smith, Zan Tabak, Otis Thorpe

If Houston’s ’94 title run was inspired, the ’95 version seemed unlikely to ever happen. The Rockets posted the NBA’s 10th-best record and were pushed to the distance in their first two playoff rounds. But something about matchups with arguably the other two best centers in the League seemed just what Hakeem Olajuwon needed: He Dream-shook and dominated newly crowned MVP David Robinson in the conference finals, then went for 32.8 and 11.5 to sweep young Shaq and the Magic for the title.

Get your copy of SLAM Presents TOP 75 NBA Teams Of All Time

Photos via Getty Images.

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Luka Doncic and the Mavs will get to play at least one more game after beating the Golden State Warriors, 119-109. Doncic finished the elimination game with 30 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists. Dorian Finney-Smith followed up with 23 points and six rebounds, Reggie Bullock contributed 18 points, and Jalen Brunson put up 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists.

“Our defense,” Doncic said when asked what made Game 4 different than the previous three. “I think our defense was amazing today outside of the fourth quarter. That’s how we gotta play; we play good defense; we share the ball; we’re a dangerous team.”

Luka and the Mavs force Game 5.

30 PTS
14 REB
9 AST

(via @NBATV)
pic.twitter.com/F48nOPm0d1

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 25, 2022

Tuesday’s Game 4 ended up being precisely what Dallas needed as it looks to become the first team to come back from a 3-0 deficit. Facing elimination for the third time this postseason, the Mavs put together their most complete performance, hitting 41-82 fields on 30 total assists. Dallas also knocked down 20-43 three-pointers and outrebounded Golden State Warriors 45-42.

The last time Golden State led was after Moses Moody (10 points) scored on a jumper, giving the Warriors a 31-29. The Mavs subsequently took control of Game 4 from there, with a Davis Bertans (five points, five rebounds) three-pointer giving Dallas a lead it wouldn’t surrender.

The Mavs then went on a 25-6 run over a seven-minute span to firmly take control of Game 4. During that game-altering sequence, the Warriors missed nine of their 10 shot attempts and committed two turnovers.

“We weren’t alert tonight defensively,” Coach Steve Kerr said. “We weren’t sharp, and I thought we let them kinda get into a groove. Once a team like that gets into a three-point groove, it’s tough to get them out of it.”

Beautiful basketball.

(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/q2fjICRE5o

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 25, 2022

By the time halftime rolled along, the Mavs had held a 62-47 lead. The Mavs ultimately held a 29-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, but the Warriors showed that you could never count them out. The Warriors outscored the Mavs 39-20, cutting the Mavs lead to eight of a Jonathon Kuminga three-pointer. However, that was as close as the Warriors would get even with Stephen Curry (20 points, five rebounds, eight assists) back on the floor.

After Coach Jason Kidd called a timeout, he inserted his starters back on the court to close the game out. Doncic responded immediately, throwing down a dunk in the halfcourt, followed by Bullock hitting his sixth three-pointer of the night.

According to Brunson, the Mavs are looking to take the WCF one game at a time; the next time they will adopt that mentality will be for Thursday’s Game 5 at Chase Center.

“The biggest thing that we took from this was we gotta take it one game at a time,” Brunson said. “Think of it like four Game 7s, win or go home. We gotta give our all every game; we were able to do that for the first three quarters and nine minutes.”

The post Luka Doncic Forces Game 5 With 30-Point Performance appeared first on SLAM.

Luka Magic dimes.

(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/rxAoQ8Uvpg

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 23, 2022

The mutual respect and trust between Luka Magic and Kidd are just getting started through Year 1 of Kidd’s coaching tenure in Dallas has been fruitful. The Mavs (52-30) finished the regular season with the fourth-best record in the West. Doncic earned his third All-Star nod and is likely headed to another All-NBA selection. , Doncic finished with 28.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game through 65 appearances this past season.

What helped facilitate the Doncic-Kidd bond was assistant coach Igor Kokoskov. He coached Doncic on the Slovenian national team in 2017 and won a EuroLeague championship together when both were with Real Madrid, capped off by Doncic winning EuroLeague MVP and EuroLeague Final Four MVP in 2018.

Kokoskov was added to Kidd’s staff last summer, where he has been tasked with the significant tasks of lead offensive strategist and the go-to confidant for Doncic.

“Jason was one of the best point guards to ever play the game,” Mavericks assistant Igor Kokoskov said per the Dallas Morning News. “Luka respects his career and what he did in this league. A lot of things Jason did 20, 25 years ago, Luka is wanting to achieve right now. He understands that and is very open, willing to listen, willing to get better, willing to be coached.”

Luka pulled out the shimmy after this buzzer beater over Curry .

(via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/4fSXlnSya9

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 23, 2022

According to Kokoskov, Doncic and Kidd “have a great, great relationship” because Kidd has been able to get through to Doncic because Kidd doesn’t fuss and carry on like the coaches who groomed Doncic have been. Instead of shouting and getting in players’ faces, Kidd typically asks Doncic about his preferences and views, discussing basketball in a conversational matte.

Kidd also gives Doncic plenty of rope, and when situations aren’t going well, he will help Doncic make in-game adjustments to help turn things around.

Although Kidd may be a players-coach, he’s not afraid to push Doncic in the right direction. In particular, Kidd has criticized Doncic for his conditioning and Luka Legends’ habit of complaining to refs when calls don’t go his way. Kidd’s comments led to Doncic getting into game shape while Doncic only picked up three technical fouls since March.

“That’s where you, even more, trust him,” Doncic said before joking: “He don’t get mad at me a lot. Maybe he’s got to do that some more.”

Game 4 of the WCF is scheduled for Tuesday, with Dallas looking to extend the series to five games with a win over the Golden State Warriors. No team in League playoff history has come back from a 3-0 series hole.

The post Luka Doncic Embraces Jason Kidd’s ‘Tough Love’ Coaching appeared first on SLAM.

Now that they’re staring down a 3-0 series deficit after losing Sunday’s Game 3 to the Warriors, 109-100, Coach Jason Kidd elected to keep the Mavs’ unexpected ascension to the Western Conference Finals in perspective during his postgame presser.

“This is just the beginning of this journey,” Kidd told reporters postgame. “I know you guys have us winning the championship before the season started. And that’s a joke if you didn’t get it. This is a lot bigger than just this one game or this series. This is huge for our franchise because none of you guys had us here.”

Luka pulled out the shimmy after this buzzer beater over Curry .

(via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/4fSXlnSya9

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 23, 2022

He also credited their loss to getting outrebounded and not being able to hit enough of their three-point attempts. For the night, Golden State rebounded Dallas 47-33, with Kevon Looney leading the Warriors with 12 boars, followed by 11 from Andrew Wiggins (27 points). Doncic (40 points) led the Mavericks with 11 rebounds, but no other Maverick corralled more than five boards.

Heading into a do-or-die Game 4, the Mavs will have to kick up their physicality inside in order to win the rebounding battle. They will also need their snipers like  Reggie Bullock and Maxi Kleber not to go 0-12 from the three-point line. The decision to attack the boards and create second-chance buckets will be pivotal when they’re not hitting shots, and the Mavs will need all the extra possession they can get to extend the series.

“I’ve said we’re going to live and die by the three, but we’re also dying by not getting rebounds,” Kidd said, per Callie Caplan of the Dallas Morning News.

Luka Magic dimes.

(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/rxAoQ8Uvpg

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 23, 2022

Game 4 of the WCF will be on Tuesday, with the Mavs hoping to avoid the sweep. No team in NBA history has come back from a 3-0 deficit.

The post Jason Kidd On 3-0 Series Deficit: ‘None of You Guys Had Us Here’ appeared first on SLAM.

Mavericks star Luka Doncic finished the game with 20 points shooting 6-18 from the floor and 3-10 from deep. In the second half, Doncic scored just two points and added six more turnovers to end the game.

In the post-game press conference, Coach Jason Kidd told reporters that Luka Magic will be better in Game Two and that Doncic understands how the Warriors will guard him.

“He’s only 23, and we really don’t talk about his age that much, but he understands what they’re trying to do, and he’ll be better. We believe that in the locker room, and there’s not much to say, we knew what was going to come, and we didn’t make shots. He got in the paint and created some looks for guys who normally make them, and they just didn’t go down this evening.”

The Mavericks shot 36 percent from the floor as a team and 22.9 percent from downtown.

Dallas looks to regroup and tie the series Friday for Game Two of the Western Conference Finals in Chase Center.

The post Jason Kidd On the Mavericks’ Inefficient Game 1 Against Warriors appeared first on SLAM.

Luka Magic had led the Mavs to their first Western Conference Finals appearance since 2011, when Dallas won their first NBA title. Following their first conference finals practice on Tuesday, Doncic and the Mavs have loved life and enjoyed getting to work the greatest job in the world, playing basketball. When Dallas faces off against the Golden State Warriors, they’ll be playing with house money and less pressure than the Dubs.

“I’m living my best life – a dream,” Doncic said. “Before Game 7, I said this might be my last game of the NBA season, but I was ready. I wanted to play basketball.

“Tomorrow is another basketball game that I’ll enjoy. I get to play at least four (more games). You never know, so I’m just happy to be playing basketball. It’s incredible.”

Doncic has been deep in his bag through the Mavericks playoff run, as un-guardable as he’s ever been. Honestly, Doncic getting a bucket is as inevitable as Thanos is. In their seven-game series win against Phoenix Suns, Luka Legend averaged 32.6 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game, scoring 30+ three times, starting the series off with some fireworks after dropping 45 points in 44 minutes.

When the Mavs take on the Dubs, Doncic will have to figure out to solve a defense headlined by Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and Andrew Wiggins. The Mavs will surely attempt to force a Doncic-Stephen Curry matchup off a switch to counteract those potentially tough matchups. When the Mavs and Warriors played on March 3, Doncic finished the 122-113 win with 41 points, 10 rebounds, and nine dimes.

Will double-teams work in slowing down Doncic? Luka Magic won’t tell.

“Then, everybody would play that defense,” he said. “For me, I’ll probably see a couple more double team this series, and that’s fine. We faced double teams the whole season. I think we play the best when they double team – four-on-three basketball in the NBA. We have a lot of great players.”

When Doncic finally faces the playoff defense of the Warriors, Coach Jason Kidd is confident the three-time All-Star will find a way to figure out the different looks Coach Steve Kerr will throw at Doncic to slow down the superstar point guard. Because Doncic has faced so many different coverages since playing in Europe and the NBA, he’s not worried about what Luka Legend will do because “The bigger it gets, the better he plays. So hopefully, that’s what happens for us.”

Doncic is most looking forward to being defended by Green, who has a DPOY in his name and has embraced the challenge of slowing down superstars like Doncic throughout this career. It will be interesting to see how Green, Thompson, and Wiggins counteract Luka Legends’ isolation prowess, Doncic being great at playing at his own speed, and his ability to throw passes out of the post to his snipers around the perimeter.

“I have so much respect for Draymond,” Doncic said. “Obviously, Klay and Steph are incredible, but I think the key to the Warriors’ team is Draymond.

“He’s just unbelievable, and I really respect him. He impacts the game in every other category.”

Game 1 of the WCF between the Mavs and Warriors will undoubtedly be primetime viewing on Tuesday night. Especially with Dallas being able to lose and freely fresh off their Game 7 blowout over the Suns. All the pressure will be on the Warriors, who are likely the favorite to win the series and advance to their fifth NBA Finals since 2015.

The post Luka Doncic Thinks Draymond Green is the ‘Key’ to the Warriors appeared first on SLAM.

The blowout win was Luka Legends’ first career elimination game win in three tries, the first two chances coming in losses to the Clippers the last two seasons. The Mavericks have now answered a loss of at least 20 points with a victory of their own 10 straight times this year, 13 if you count last season, including a playoff win against the Clippers.

“I don’t know if he was playing as if he was trying to do something different,” Kidd said per ESPN. “I think he enjoys the moment. You guys have seen a little bit longer than I have up close. He’s not afraid of the stage. I think you guys call it the first time winning an elimination game. He’ll be in this situation a long, long time.”

Luka talking trash gets me hyped (via @espn) pic.twitter.com/99gqXehkpu

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 13, 2022

The Mavs’ blowout win can be attributed to their stifling defense. Dallas held Phoenix to a season-low in scoring, regular or postseason, for the second time in the Western Conference semifinal series. The Suns were also held to a playoff low 39.7 percent shooting from the field and turned the ball over a season-high 22 times.

Luka hyped up the crowd and had words for Devin Booker after this offensive foul. pic.twitter.com/9IDmWJeXd8

— ESPN (@espn) May 13, 2022

Dallas was also aided by the contributions of Reggie Bullock (19 points), Jalen Brunson (18 points), and Spencer Dinwiddie (15 points on 5-7 shooting from beyond the arc).

“I think we won this game on the defensive end,” Doncic said. “We’ve got another game. That’s fun. It’s playoffs, and we’re going to give our energy.”

The Mavericks blew the gates open with a 19-6 run to finish the first half, turning a two-point lead into a 60-45 lead going into halftime. The Suns attempted to make some second-half pushes, but the Mavs were clicked on all cylinders and grew their lead to as many as 27 points, ensuring long before the final whistle that there would be a winner-take-all Game 7 on Sunday.

The post Jason Kidd on Luka Doncic’s Playoff Heroics: ‘I Think He Enjoys the Moment’ appeared first on SLAM.

Well, it seems as though this Mavs team took those challenges to heart, beating the Suns 103-94, holding Phoenix to their worse offensive efficiency of the playoffs, notably making sure that the targeting roles were reversed after forcing Chris Paul into 12 points, seven rebounds, and four assists on seven turnovers. Phoenix coughed the ball up 17 times overall on Friday.

As far as Kidds challenge for someone other than Doncic to score the ball, five players scored in double-figures in response to Kidd’s gauntlet, led by Jalen Brunson. The two-time NCAA champion finished Game 3 with a game-high 28 points, four rebounds, and five dimes on 47.6 (10-21) percent shooting from the field. Luka Legend posted 26 points, 13 rebounds, and nine dimes.

”I found a way to bounce back tonight,” Brunson said per NBA.com. ”I just can’t be satisfied with this. Sunday’s going to be another brutal game. I have to bring the same energy, the same intensity, the same everything.”

“It was a great team win. JB, Spencer, Maxi, Doe, Reggie, everybody joined the party,” Kidd added per YahooSports.

Game 4 of the Suns-Mavericks series will resume on Sunday afternoon.

The post Jalen Brunson Gets His ‘Bounce Back’ in Game 3 Win: ‘I Just Can’t Be Satisfied With This’ appeared first on SLAM.

However, it’s not Luka Legends’ record-breaking sixth 40-point game at 23-years-old that’s receiving attention at the moment. Instead, the Suns and Chris Paul are relentlessly hunting for a CP3-Dončić matchup out of the pick-and-roll, creating an offensive attack that’s overshadowing the offensive exploits of Dončić.

During Game 2 of the Suns-Mavs series, Paul ran Dončić through 19 ball screens in the second half, scoring 1.81 points per chance on those possessions, per ESPN and Second Spectrum. The back-and-forth between the two All-Stars all but erased the 35-point effort Dončić put up in the Mavs’ 129-109 loss as CP3 torched the suns to the tune of 28 points, six rebounds, and eight assists.

“It’s no secret, they’re going to put him in every pick-and-roll,” Kidd said about the Suns seeking out Luka Doncic, “[Opponents] did the same thing with Dirk [Nowitzki] until he participated and stuck up for himself.”

Jason Kidd on the Suns’ hunting Luka Doncic: “It’s no secret, they’re going to put him in every pick-and-roll. [Opponents] did the same thing with Dirk [Nowitzki] until he participated and stuck up for himself”

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) May 6, 2022

Heading into Game 3 down 2-0, Kidd and Doncic will have to find a way to get vital scorers like Jalen Brunson and Spencer Dinwiddie going and a way to get stops when it matters the most so that Dončić can bring them home during crunch time.

Some of that may depend on Kidd developing a game plan that will lessen the load Dončić carries; as of Game 2, he holds a League-high 38.8 percent usage rate in the playoffs. It was 45 percent in the first half of Game 2.

Defensively, the Mavs could look to do the same to CP3, effectively wearing him as the game goes on so that he loses some offensive potency late in the fourth quarter. Another solution would be to pre-switch, allowing a teammate to switch with Dončić’s matchup before a pick-and-roll action can be run.

Time is of the essence for Dallas to reclaim some momentum as the Suns-Mavs series shifts to Dallas for Game 3 on Friday.

The post Jason Kidd on the Suns Seeking Luka Doncic Matchup: ‘They’re Going to Put Him in Every Pick-and-Roll’ appeared first on SLAM.

Luka Doncic now has the most 40-point playoff games by a player 23 or younger after dropping his 6th postseason 40-piece tonight.

— SLAM Newswire (@SLAMnewswire) May 3, 2022

Doncic has eclipsed Larry Bird, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Kyrie Irving, Tracy McGrady, Chris Paul, and Devin Booker for most 40-point games in just 17 career playoff games. Luka Magic is tied with Stephen Curry and George Gervin. To top off this accomplishment, Doncic’s playoff career average of 33.5 points per game matches that of the GOAT himself, Michael Jordan.

The only thing that Doncic and the Mavs could’ve asked for was a win to go along with his primetime performance. Phoenix went into Game 1 of their second-round series with Dallas focused on preventing the Mavs’ other playmakers from getting into a rhythm. The rest of Dallas’ starters combined for just 39 points; the second time in Doncic’s playoff career, he scored more points than his teammates in the starting lineup.

“He got whatever he wanted, when you look at the shots in the paint, behind the arc, midrange, and then also I thought he got his teammates some great looks that we normally had made,” Coach Jason Kidd said per ESPN. “I thought he played great.

“We’ve just got to get someone to join the party.”

The Suns also made to sure blanket Dwight Powell during pick-and-roll situations and prioritized switching on screens set by Maxi Kleber, who scored 19 points on 6-9 shooting. The breakout star of the first round, Jalen Brunson, had a tough night shooting, scoring 16 points on 6-16 shooting, and Spencer Dinwiddie finished with eight points on 3-8 shooting.

Game 2 of the Phoenix-Dallas series will take place on Wednesday.

The post Luka Doncic Posts Sixth 40 Point Game; Most Ever By a 23-Year-Old appeared first on SLAM.

In the first round against the Pelicans, Ayton averaged 20.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game on 70.0 percent shooting from the field. A good jump from his regular season when he posted 17.2 points and 10.2 boards per game.

As the Mavericks-Suns series rolls, Mavericks Coach Jason Kidd’s use of small-ball lineups might not be as valuable against Ayton, who is athletic enough to keep up with shooters like Maxi Kleber when Kidd deploys him as small-ball 5. The Suns also have lengthy and versatile defenders like Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, and Cam Johnson, who can chase the Mavericks’ marksman

“We have to adapt,” Kidd said per Sports Illustrated. “Our game plan against Utah is not going to work against the Suns. We’ve already changed that mindset because we’re not playing the Jazz.

Ayton will be tasked with taking advantage of the Mavs whenever he’s in a pick-and-roll situation with CP3, rim-running in transition, and bullying his matchup when he’s given the rock in the low post. Ayton is also a threat to score from deep, sinking 50 percent of his four three-point attempts so far in the playoffs.

“We understand their strength is midrange, but they hurt you with the 3 in transition, and they can hurt you in the paint with JaVale and Ayton. This isn’t Gobert or Whiteside. These guys can put the ball in the basket. So, our bigs are going to be tested.”

The post Jason Kidd on Guarding the Suns’ Big Men: ‘We Have to Adapt’ appeared first on SLAM.

The Mavs pulled out to an early lead, but the Jazz chipped away in the third quarter. However, the Dallas defense showed out in the fourth quarter to secure the 126-118 victory. 

“We made timely shots and we made timely stops,” said Mavs coach Jason Kidd following the win.

In the absence of Doncic, Jalen Brunson continued to play like a star. After his 31-point performance in Game 3, he’s now averaging 32.0 points per contest in the series. 

Utah is in a tough situation after losing its first matchup of the series at home. Even without Doncic taking the floor yet again, the Mavericks have taken control of the series with a 2-1 lead. 

The Mavs were once again on fire from beyond the arc on Thursday night, converting on 18 of their 42 triples as a team. This was again sparked by forward Maxi Kleber, who is now 12-16 through his past two games. 

“When you’re a hot player, you’re a hot player,” said Kleber following Game 3. 

For the Jazz, the offense still hasn’t clicked in this series. The slump towards the end of the regular season has continued into the postseason to this point. While they scored 118 points tonight, it wasn’t enough as the scoring was stagnant in the first and fourth quarter. 

Overall, Utah looked solid offensively shooting 56.5% from the floor. It just wasn’t consistent enough to get the job done. 

After scoring zero points in Game 3, Mike Conley produced 21 points on 14 shots Thursday night. Bojan Bogdanovic scored 24 points while Donovan Mitchell produced 32 of his own. 

With that in mind, Mitchell still believes everything starts with defense for this Jazz team. 

“It starts defensively, and everything else falls into place,” he said postgame. 

For the first time this series, the rebounding battle was balanced. Both teams pulled down 32 boards on the night.  

This series is far from over, even if Doncic does return at some point. The Jazz have the talent to make things interesting down the stretch, and the Mavericks know that. 

“I’m proud of this team,” Brunson said postgame. “I’m proud of the fight that we have. They’re a team that’s not going to quit. They’re a good team.”

Game 4 will take place on Saturday in Utah. 

The post Mavericks Continue To Roll, Sealing Game 3 Road Victory Against Jazz appeared first on SLAM.

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic is out for Game 3 vs. Utah tonight, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/PhQ3KWWHPj

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 21, 2022

The Dallas faithful might have something to look forward to watching Thursday, and it’s not just Game 3 against the Utah Jazz. Mavericks Coach Jason Kidd said star Luka Dončić might be a game time decision, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.

However, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that there’s ‘pessimism’ surrounding the possibility that Dončić ends up playing tonight. He was officially listed as ‘Questionable’ on the offical injury report after the Mavs said he was ‘Doubtful’ for the first two games due to a left calf strain. Dončić sustained this left calf strain against the San Antonio Spurs in the season finale.

Dallas will be playing in Vivint Arena in Utah for the first time in this series, an arena they went winless in the regular season, going 0-2. The Mavericks will hope that Luka will be able to suit up to try and win their first game in Vivint Arena this season, putting them up 2-1 on the Jazz. Tip-off is set for 9 PM EST.

The post REPORT: Luka Doncic Ruled OUT For Game 3 Against Utah appeared first on SLAM.

The differentiator in Game 2 was on the perimeter. Dallas was hot from beyond the arc all night, finishing 22-of-47 (46.8%) from that distance. Those 22 made 3-pointers set a new franchise-best for the postseason.

This was fueled by Maxi Kleber, who knocked down eight of his 11 attempts from deep. This was one make away from tying Jason Terry for the all-time postseason record for triples made in a game. 

Dallas made 17 uncontested 3-pointers in this contest, which is the most by any team in last ten postseasons. However, that’s not something the Mavericks are going to depend upon moving forward in this series. 

“It’s not live or die by the three. We’re not Golden State,” Spencer Dinwiddie said postgame. 

Furthermore, Jalen Brunson continued to shine in the absence of Doncic, finishing the night with a career-high 41 points. He also posted eight rebounds and five assists. From the moment the game tipped off, Brunson was in control of the offense. He became became the fifth member in the history of the Mavericks to score at least 40 points in a playoff game.

“He’s gonna make a lot of money,” said Mavs coach Jason Kidd of Brunson who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. “I don’t know if he needs an agent. It’s not just what he did tonight. He’s shown he deserves to be paid.”

What was perhaps most impressive about Brunson’s night was that he kept the offense in rhythm, which helped Dallas take care of the ball. Brunson became the first player in Mavericks history with 40 points and zero turnovers in a playoff game. 

As a team, Dallas committed just three turnovers, which is a franchise record since that statistic began being tracked in 1982. 

Again, it took a historic night for the Mavs to pull off the much needed win. Now, they’ll head to Utah for the next two games of the series. Although the Jazz would have preferred to win both games without Doncic in the lineup this far, they’re still confident moving forward. 

“Two wins is great, but one win is good. We have to make adjustments,” said Rudy Gobert postgame. “It’s a marathon.” 

Jazz coach Quin Snyder has a similar mindset entering Game 3, realizing there’s still a ton of basketball left to be played. 

“This is the playoffs,” said Snyder after the loss. “It’s 1-1, we’re going back home. It’s a seven-game series.”

Utah struggled to defend the perimeter, which ultimately led to Dallas getting whatever it wanted offensively all over the court. 

“This is something we can fix,” said Donovan Mitchell postgame. 

A true x-factor in this series, veteran Mike Conley was held to zero points in Game 2, missing all seven of his shot attempts. Especially if Doncic comes back into the fold later in the series, Conley will need to contribute more offensively.  

Nonetheless, it’s a tied series with the Jazz hosting the next two games. Regardless of the personnel they’re up against, it’s a clean slate with five games remaining. 

“We are not going to overreact,” said Mitchell after Game 2. “We just have to go home and try and take care of business. They are going to try and get a split like we got a split here.”

Utah continues to dominate the boards with its size, but that proved to not be enough with the Dallas bigs knocking down triples at a high rate in Game 2. 

Moving forward, the status of Doncic will be a huge swing in how this series ends.  

The post Mavericks Ride Historic Night To Game 2 Victory Over Jazz appeared first on SLAM.

As Doncic continues to work towards a return, he’s now spent the last two days doing light workouts in Dallas. On Sunday afternoon, he appeared to look better but was still nowhere near full strength.

“We’ll see how he feels tomorrow,” said Mavs coach Jason Kidd after practice on Sunday. Kidd wouldn’t commit to whether or not Doncic would suit up in tomorrow’s game.

Shortly after practice on Sunday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Doncic is “unlikely” to play in Game 2 on Monday barring a dramatic improvement leading up to the contest.

This would be a huge blow for the Mavericks, who need Doncic to get anywhere close to their ceiling as a team. One of the best players in the entire NBA, his health will dictate the success of Dallas in the postseason. The Mavericks have also listed Doncic as doubtful to play in Game 2.

If the Mavs aren’t able to pull off a win on Monday, they’ll head to Utah for Game 3 and Game 4 on the road in an 0-2 hole. Even if Doncic were able to return at that point, it would be an uphill battle to win the series.

The post REPORT: Mavericks Star Luka Doncic ‘Unlikely’ To Play In Game 2 Against Jazz appeared first on SLAM.

Entering the game, the Mavs knew they’d be without their best player in Luka Doncic. However, even without their star they nearly beat the Jazz. 

 “Hopefully he gets healthy,” said Jazz coach Quin Snyder. “You always want a great player to get the opportunity to play, whether he’s on your team or the other.”

Utah ultimately won Game 1 by a final score of 99-93. It was a contest in which scoring wasn’t plentiful, but also didn’t lack excitement. In a game of runs, it truly came down to the final minutes to determine a winner. 

When it came down to it, the size difference between the two rosters was the primary factor. The Mavericks lack a dominant 7-footer, as Dwight Powell and Maxi Kleber (both 6-foot-10) filled out the center rotation on Saturday afternoon. 

That’s simply not enough size to match up against the Utah centers in Rudy Gobert and Hassan Whiteside, who are both 7-foot-1. Additionally they’re both traditional bigs that are great on the glass. This proved to be a key differentiator, as Dallas was outrebounded 53 to 34. 

“We’ve just gotta rebound the ball, especially playing small. It’s just something we’ve gotta get better at,” said Mavs coach Jason Kidd postgame. 

Regardless of when Doncic comes back, the battle on the boards is going to continue to be important. This series could ultimately come down to the style of play. If the Jazz continue to outmatch the Mavs with their size, they’ll have a huge advantage. On the flip side, if Dallas can have success with its small ball lineups and play Gobert and Whiteside off the floor, things could swing in the favor of the Mavericks. 

Both teams failed to score 100 points in Game 1, so every bucket really mattered throughout the contest. It was a tale of two halves for the Jazz, as Bojan Bogdanovic carried the offense in the first half while Donovan Mitchell shouldered the load in the second. 

Of the 45 points Utah scored in the first half, Bogdanovic account for nearly half with 20. In the second half, Mitchell produced 30 of his 32 points on the afternoon. 

While the Jazz didn’t have a consistent primary scorer across the entire game, they got the points they needed in bunches from two of their best offensive players. Gobert finished with just five points on one field goal attempt, but made his impact on the glass and on defense. 

“We had a chance, held them under 100 points. That was tough,” said Spencer Dinwiddie after the loss. 

Although Utah came out on top in Game 1, Dallas should feel extremely optimistic. Without their best player, the Mavericks legitimately had a shot to win. You could argue that when Doncic comes back, the Mavs should be favorites the rest of the way.  

The guard duo of Dinwiddie and Jalen Brunson combined for 46 points, but will need to be more efficient moving forward. Those two took a total of 39 shots to produce those points. 

The Mavs started hot from beyond the arc, but cooled off as the game went on. They finished 9-of-32 (28.1%) from deep on the afternoon. If just a couple more of those shots would have gone down, the outcome of this game could have easily been different. 

The Jazz got the win, but it wasn’t necessarily convincing against a shorthanded Mavericks team. This series could still go either way. 

“We’ve got to do a better job of making the easy shots,” said Brunson looking ahead to the next matchup. “We missed a lot of easy shots. Gotta follow our game plan and stick together.”

Game 2 will take place in Dallas once again on Monday evening. 

The post Jazz Win Game 1 With Size, Mavericks Feel Optimistic Moving Forward appeared first on SLAM.

“I don’t think about [how] I’m averaging career-highs. I know people always say it, like, How’s it feel? I’m just trying to be me, I’m not trying to blow anything out of proportion. Obviously, what I’m doing is good stuff, but the best thing about it is I know I could be doing better. That’s the part that keeps me hungry.” 

What exactly does better look like for the Mavericks’ second-leading scorer?

“I’ll know when I get there,” he says confidently. 

Until then, it’s all about staying prepared. There’s nothing flashy about the grind, nor is there about Jalen. At his SLAM photo shoot, he prefers to keep it simple and rock a few Nike sweatsuits. In between takes, he chops it up about how he’s a big movie guy and dishes a few takes on The Batman and Euphoria. When another question comes up about where his confidence comes from, there’s no ego or anything extra to his answer. “My work ethic,” he says. Simple as that.

His father Rick pushed and demanded it out of him. Jalen watched his father constantly work during his own 12-year long pro career, night in and night out. He trained relentlessly, too—in the summer, Jalen says Rick would run in the blazing heat wearing a sweat jacket, and at 7 years old, he’d be there, riding his bike alongside him. “I didn’t really understand it, I thought it was just what he did,” he says. “Seeing what people do now in their free time, versus what my dad did, I’m like, Damn. He did all that and he was in the League for nine years, overseas, CBA and never had a guaranteed contract.” 

“I’m fortunate to be guaranteed four years, and I’m like, Wow. If I could work half as hard…I have to do something to get better, every day.” 

He’s become methodical and committed to his routine, which has pretty much stayed the same over the years, whether he’s starting every game or playing less minutes: shooting the night before games, getting in his conditioning, eating at certain times of the day, taking a nap (if time permits) and entirely dialing in on the task ahead. 

Brunson has always been that way, routine-oriented. He grew up watching how Rick would get ready for games, and at 2 years old, would mimic what he saw. According to his mother Sandra there’d be a “full-court” set up in his grandparent’s kitchen and living room with New York Knicks stickers taped onto their hardwood floors [Rick played for the Knicks for a couple of years at that time—Ed.]. A young Jalen would pack all his gear—sneakers, shorts and a jersey—into a duffel bag, put on a blazer or vest and say, Mom, I’m going to my game. 

He would then walk through the house, put on his sneakers and do exactly what he does now as a four-year guard in the League—go to work with the ball in his hands. He’d copy the moves he saw the players around him do, including Rick’s then-New York Knicks teammate Allen Houston. 

“I just like knowing what I’m getting myself into. I’m one of those guys that if you find a good restaurant, I could eat at that restaurant every time we go out,” Brunson says of being routine-oriented. “I think that gets your mind right. Once you’re in that zone of doing what you got to do to be ready for the game, it kind of takes the thought process out of worrying about other things. I don’t run any errands on game day. Sometimes I’ll stop and get a tea on the way to games, but I’m not trying to do anything to make me not think about being ready for the game. If I’m in that routine, I’m not thinking about anything. My mind is just, like, free.” 

It was Sandra who taught him the art of goal-setting. While Rick was working in Charlotte as an assistant coach with the Bobcats, the rest of the family lived in Illinois. Sandra wanted Jalen and his sister to have a way to focus on themselves and their own goals, rather than on why their father wasn’t there or how long he’d be gone. It all started organically—school would begin in August, and Sandra would ask, What are your goals this year? What do you want to do? Jalen started getting creative with it, and would draft them up on the computer and hang them around his room. “I told him, It’s great to have goals and dreams but let’s stick with realistic goals. What are the things you can really achieve, right now? Let’s not think about down the road, like, Oh, I want to be in the NBA. That’s great. But let’s think about 10th grade. What do you want to do?” 

That year, Brunson led Stevenson HS to a state championship against Simeon Career Academy, who was stacked with standouts like Jabari Parker and Kendrick Nunn. By his junior year, the five-star recruit was averaging 26.1 points and was named Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year. When Villanova head coach Jay Wright came over for a home visit, Sandra recalls him noticing the pieces of paper taped onto the walls in his bedroom. 

Fast forward to Brunson’s junior year at Villanova, when he wrote down all of his academic and athletic goals and typed them up on the computer. He added on-court images of himself in the backdrop and then placed his goals as overlay text in an all-caps, bold white font. He hung the two pieces of paper on his dorm room’s white wall—on the left side were his academic goals, from graduating in the summer of 2018 to making the All-American, Big East and Big Five Academic teams, and on the right were his athletic goals. Those were very specific and performance-based: 2018 First-Team All American, All-Big East, All-Big Five. There were also some team-oriented ones—conference regular season and tournament champions, and winning an NCAA National Championship.

He’d then send Sandra the picture of those goals hanging on the wall to prove to her that he actually did them. Sandra still has the picture on her phone, which she shared with SLAM via text mid-interview. 

“It was a thing, and it stuck,” she says of the goal setting. “I don’t really put too much pressure on him now. I still say, What are your goals? And I’ll text him, [but] I don’t see [them written down] in his apartment. Maybe it’s in his locker, or maybe it’s more internal.”

“That’s how I measure myself. I see these goals, and [how] I’m going to get there,” Brunson explains. “They’re mostly short term, for that year, I have long term goals of course, but that’s how I measure myself.” 

Preparedness, consistency and staying true to himself and the work have become the foundational fabrics to his approach. It’s how he solidified himself as one of the best guards ever to suit up for the Wildcats, but even then, Brunson wanted more. “I was a version of myself, I guess I technically didn’t know I had. I always knew I was good, playing the post, but we really used it as a weapon,” he says in retrospect. “I would say that where I was then was a perfect place, because I knew that I had accomplished a lot, I did a lot [and] was successful, but I knew I had so much more room to grow.”

When he came into the L as a rookie, Brunson found himself having to work his way up. He  averaged just 9.3 points in 21.8 minutes of action. “That’s something that I’ve done at every stage in my career, high school, college and the pros. I have no problem with it, and honestly it makes me better. It makes me hungry, not really complacent. I’m always trying to find ways to improve myself. I just knew that whenever I got my opportunity, I was gonna make the most of it.”

Now in his fourth year, Brunson’s pursuit of consistency put him in a prominent spot in the team’s starting lineup, having started in 61 regular season games, averaging 16.3 points. When the team has needed him the most, Brunson has more than delivered. During a 10-game stretch in December, when many of his teammates, including Luka Doncic, were out due to injuries and COVID protocols, he steadily put up double-digit figures and averaged 21 points while shooting 51.3 percent from the field. 

“That’s when it really clicked. I had some good games in the beginning of the year, but I think that stretch kind of solidified how people view me a little bit. My coaches know, my teammates know, and that’s all I really care about, [but] I guess people started to see and take notice. Thank you for noticing, but I’m doing this for myself, my team.” 

His words echo yet another lesson instilled in him by his parents. It was Rick who suggested to Sandra one day that she print out what people were saying, or inspirational quotes, onto sticky notes. Sandra placed them all around the house—in the bathroom, on the fridge, the television and mirrors. Seeing is believing, and when every corner in your place has a note reminding you of who you are, eventually, it becomes ingrained.

Rather than ride the wave of a good game, or in his case, the best season of his career so far, Brunson says that for him, it’s the standard. “Sometimes after games, yeah, I’ll watch [them] over and stuff like that, but [the feeling] is short term because I feel the same way when I don’t play well. I can’t be riding a hot streak of playing well, [or] when a bad day comes, I gotta switch it up. Whether it’s good or bad, gotta move forward. 

“Just staying consistent with work, and obviously a little more opportunity helps, [but] I think being able to have [Jason] Kidd as a coach has really helped me understand things that I thought I already knew. Hearing it from someone else definitely could help me. He’s pushed me, he expects the best out of me every time. I do appreciate that, because it just doesn’t keep me satisfied. That’s how my dad was, just always wanting more, more, more.”

When Brunson dished a pass to Dorian Finney-Smith in the corner for the game-winning shot against the Kings in March, it was Kidd who came in with the constructive criticism while everyone else praised him. “He was like, ‘Oh, you should have went a little later. We wanted the last, last shot. Great pass though. Everyone else was like, Oh, he kind of just stole your show, and in my mind I’m like, Yeah, but like, when I think about it, that’s what I want. I want them to be coached like that. If people see me being coached like that, that gains a lot of respect from my teammates. I’m all about what the team needs, I’m all about respect. I’ll do anything to earn that respect.” 

As the Mavericks get ready to face the Utah Jazz in Game 1 of the opening round of the playoffs, Brunson isn’t forgetting what happened last year. The loss still sits with him. “I haven’t moved past it. I still think about it, in a good way. I’ve always done well with a little bit of adversity.” 

But he’s focusing on what he can control. His family’s saying, The magic is in the work, often runs through his head, and he even wears it on two bracelets.

“You’ve got to be consistent with what you’re putting out there on the court, but most importantly, keep your routine, keep having the same mentality [and] doing the things that you do that have gotten you here. Don’t just say, I’m here, now I can take a chill pill. Like, no. Keep pushing yourself. That’s how I want to continue.”  

Portraits by Jonathan Lewis. Follow him on Instagram, @johnnyysilk.

The post The Pursuit of Consistency: How Jalen Brunson Has Emerged into a Prominent Force for the Dallas Mavericks appeared first on SLAM.

Luka Doncic (calf strain) will be out for Game 1 vs. Utah on Saturday, per @wojespn. pic.twitter.com/khsbHSRcbV

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) April 15, 2022

Luka Dončić will miss at least Game 1 against the Jazz due to a strained calf, according to Shams Charania.

Mavericks star Luka Doncic is expected to miss Game 1 vs. Jazz on Saturday night due to strained calf, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

The latest regarding Doncic: https://t.co/bEFYKs2gmk

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 14, 2022

Dončić suffered the injury last Sunday in the third quarter of the Mavericks’ season finale against the Spurs. Dončić playing at all in the third frame came with some derision, although the Mavs had an incentive to play their starters. Had the Mavs won, and the Warriors lost against the Pelicans, Dallas would’ve entered the playoffs as the third seed. However, that scenario didn’t play out because the Warriors blew the Pelicans out 128-107.

Coach Jason Kidd said seeding didn’t affect his decision to play Dončić and his starters. Kidd also said he intended to always play his starters through the third due to a long layoff between their last regular-season game and playoffs starting.

Dončić averaged 28.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game on 45.7 percent shooting from the field and 35.5 percent shooting three-point territory.

The post REPORT: Luka Dončić Will Miss Game 1 Against Utah Due to Calf Injury appeared first on SLAM.

Giddeyy finished the game with 17 points, 14 assists, and 13 rebounds, snagging the record from Hornets superstar LaMelo Ball. At 19-years and 84 days old, Giddey surpassed the reigning Rookie of the Year for the record, who previously held the feat at 19-years and 140 days old.

“It’s cool, as I said earlier in the year. The individual stats are good; you enjoy it for the night,” Giddey said per ESPN. “But a win is always better than individual stats. If I have zero-zero-zero and we win, it’s always better than if I have a triple-double and lose.”

The sixth overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft shot 7-for-16 from the field and 3-for-5 from the three-point line against Dallas. Giddey led both teams in points, rebounds, and assists. Giddey’s performance gained attention from NBA legend Jason Kidd, who had 107 triple-doubles during his playing career.

“He’s unselfish. As a 19-year-old, he understands how to play the game,” Kidd said per ESPN. “He’s comfortable with the ball; his teammates all know that if he has it, they’re gonna cut because there’s a chance that they can get it. He’s comfortable shooting the three. He has the total package”.

“At 19, it’s just a matter of time of understanding how teams are going to play him. He’s as good as advertised,” said Kidd.

Oklahoma City Thunder will face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday at 7 pm CT.

The post Josh Giddey Becomes Youngest Player in NBA History To Record Triple-Double appeared first on SLAM.

Update: On Tuesday, League commissioner Adam Silver announced in an interview with Malika Andrews that the NBA would not be pausing the season for the second season since the 2019-2020 season. Silver also said that the Omricon is ‘beyond dominate’ while constituting 90 percent of positive tests.

REPORT: Per League insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the NBA, and the players union have reached an agreement to lessen the quarantine period for COVID-positive players. Players that tested positive for COVID-19 can clear protocols after five days if their “CT values” are above 30.

If a team has three positive results, two replacement signings are required. For four or more positive tests, three replacement players will be required. Two-way players will reportedly also have no limit to the number of games they can appear in as well. If a team has 13 players available for a game they do not have to sign any players to a hardship exemption.

A game will only be postponed if a team doesn’t have at least eight players available to play. A tactic the NBA frequently utilized last year when officials postponed 31 games. The League has decided to postpone nine games in total.

Below is the list of players and coaches currently in the League’s health and safety protocols.

Atlanta Hawks (three players, head coach)

• Chris Clemons
• Gorgui Dieng
• Cameron Oliver
• Nate McMillan

Boston Celtics (one player) 

• Payton Pritchard

Charlotte Hornets (one player)

• Vernon Carey Jr.

Chicago Bulls (one player)

• Alex Caruso

Dallas Mavericks (two players, head coach)

• Jason Kidd
• Boban Marjanovic
• Kristaps Porzingis

Denver Nuggets (one player)

• Petr Cornelie

Detroit Pistons (one player)

• Frank Jackson

Houston Rockets (one players)

• Usman Garuba

Indiana Pacers (six players)

• Justin Anderson
• Goga Bitadze
• Torrey Craig
• Isaiah Jackson
• Caris LeVert
• TJ Warren

LA Clippers (three players)

• Luke Kennard
• Xavier Moon
• Ivica Zubac

Memphis Grizzlies (three players, head coach)

• Taylor Jenkins
• John Konchar
• De’Anthony Melton
• Xavier Tillman

Miami Heat (three players)

• Marcus Garrett
• Udonis Haslem
• Gabe Vincent

Milwaukee Bucks (four players, head coach)

• Grayson Allen
• Mike Budenholzer
• Pat Connaughton
• George Hill
• Jrue Holiday

New Orleans Pelicans (one player)

• Tomas Satorasnky

Oklahoma City Thunder (one player, head coach)

• Isaiah Roby
• Mark Daigneault

Orlando Magic (one player)

• Robin Lopez

Philadelphia 76ers (three players)

• Tyrese Maxey
• Paul Reed
• Jaden Springer

Phoenix Suns (two players)

• Abdel Nader
• Landry Shamet

Portland Trail Blazers

• Norman Powell

Sacramento Kings (one player)

• Richaun Holmes
• Chimezie Metu

San Antonio Spurs (five players)

• Keldon Johnson
• Doug McDermott
• Devin Vassell
• Derrick White
• Thaddeus Young

Toronto Raptors (one player)

• Yuta Watanabe

Utah Jazz (two players)

• Rudy Gobert
• Joe Ingless

Washington Wizards (four players)

• Anthony Gill
• Tremont Waters
• Brad Wanamaker

The post NBA Health and Safety Protocol Tracker appeared first on SLAM.

Doncic will remain in Dallas while he receives treatment for persistent left ankle soreness that has sidelined him to miss the past three games per Marc Stein. Doncic has been in and out of the Dallas lineup with an ankle and knee sprain, which he first suffered on November 15. The Mavs will be in Minnesota to play the Timberwolves on Sunday. Doncic also missed a December 4 game

Doncic has been hobbled since spraining his left ankle on Nov. 15 that forced hom to miss the next three games before making his return. However, the soreness persisted and even forced him out of the Mavs contest against the Grizzlies in early December to rest his ankle.

Doncic leads the team with 25.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game this season, and no other Mavericks player averages more than 20 points. Dallas is 2-4 in the games he has missed. While Doncic is out, Jalen Brunson will presumably take over starting point guard duties. Brunson is averaging a career-high 14.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game on 49.7 percent shooting from the field.

The post Luka Doncic Out Until At Least Next Week With Ankle Injury appeared first on SLAM.

James joins Russell Westbrook (189), Oscar Robertson (181), Magic Johnson (138), and Jason Kidd (107) as the only players to amass 100 career triple-doubles. James also collected his 27th triple-double as a Laker, moving him past Elgin Baylor for second all-time in franchise history.

The 17-time All-Star averages 27.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.4 assists for his career and ranks third all-time in scoring, fourth in minutes, and eighth in dimes. The Lakers (13-13) look to get back on track Friday against the Thunder.

The post LeBron James Collects Historic 100th Career Triple-Double appeared first on SLAM.

After a solid start to the season, Dallas has experienced major injury issues. Whether it be Luka Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis or another one of their core pieces, the Mavericks have rarely been fully healthy this season. 

This has resulted in them losing seven of their last nine games, bringing them to .500 on the season at 11-11. 

A loss to the Memphis Grizzlies over the weekend marked the fourth consecutive loss at home for the struggling Mavericks. After that loss, Mavs coach Jason Kidd said the team needs to keep pushing forward and not get discouraged during this rough stretch. 

“I think when you look at it you can get discouraged, especially when you aren’t playing well at home on this stretch,” said Kidd. “But even with injuries and everything there is no excuse – it is next guy up. I think they are in a good place. This group has been together and been through a lot since the beginning of the season.”

As Dallas lost this game to the Grizzlies, Doncic and Porzingis were both sidelined with injury. When fully healthy, the Mavericks have looked great this season, but they haven’t had that luxury often. 

It’s a long season, with nearly three quarters of  it remaining, but the Mavericks are starting to slide down the standings. 

The post Mavericks Struggle As Key Players Miss Time appeared first on SLAM.

Many throughout the NBA world have been critical of the Mavericks’ play thus far, including team owner Mark Cuban. In an interview with Sky Sports, Cuban opened up about the Mavericks’ performance so far this season.

“We got a long way to go. But we’re getting better. I like that J-Kidd is working to develop us into the best team that we can be. Sometimes that means you’re not always playing for the short term, which is what we agreed on and what he wants to do.”

“At the end of the day, the goal moving forward is the playoffs. There are things that might not on the surface seem okay. Or you might ask, ‘Why did you do this in this game at that point,’ and there’s a longer-term meaning for it. He’s invested in his team to make it as good as we can be.”

The Dallas Mavericks are currently 9-7 on the season, which is good for the fifth seed in the West. They are currently in the midst of a three-game losing streak, having lost back-to-back contests against the Suns and the Clippers.

“We haven’t played our best basketball yet, and we will at some point. It’s too early on the standings. Other than Golden State and Phoenix, everybody else is battling it out. But it’s still early. A lot of things can change. We’ll get Maxi Kleber and hopefully Luka [Doncic] back. We’ll get our guys back, but I really, really like the fact that each game is part of the development.”

The team will look to bounce back Tuesday against the Clippers yet again.

The post Mark Cuban Gets Candid on the Mavericks’ Slow Start to the Season: ‘We Got a Long Way to Go’ appeared first on SLAM.

Per NBA.com, Porzingis says he feels great about his health, is excited about playing for new head coach Jason Kidd, and is confident he can play well with Doncic.

 “I just work my ass off,” Porzingis said. “I work really, really hard. Whenever you start to feel good on a court and start to feel healthy, it brings out the joy in you again. You enjoy the game much more.”

The first thing to address is the trade rumors that persisted after consecutive first-round playoff exits. Because of the 7’3 big man’s persistent injury struggles and mixed play, his name was reportedly in trade talks, and it looked like the Mavericks were shopping him around.

However, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban says that Porzingis “is the unicorn and he’s doing more and more unicorn things” while denying that trade talks ever happened and suggesting that Porzingis is “playing at an All-Star level.”

Secondly, Porzingis and Cuban were candid about the former All-Star’s health, something Porzingis is aware he must maintain to live up to his four-year max extension.

He missed the entire 2018-2019 season recovering knee surgery for a torn ACL, missed 18 games for various injuries, mostly in his knees during the 2019-2020 season, and he missed nine games recovering from surgery on his right knee and then 17 more dealing with injuries on that knee as well as on his back, ankle, and wrist during the 2020-2021 season.

As a result, Porzingiz says he devoted this past offseason to “a lot of physical work” to help regain his balance, shooting touch, and ability to attack the rim at his height and size. Although he was not specific about what that consisted of, Porzingis says since missing five games with a back injury, Porzingis claims he feels fully healthy with no limitations. In the last eight games, he has averaged 23.1 points on 50.4% shooting, along with 9.1 rebounds.

“I feel like my body has matured,” Porzingis said per NBA.com. “I feel strong on the court. It’s translating into my game.”

Third, Porzingis admitted to NBA.com that he didn’t feel comfortable with his role under former head coach Rick Carlisle, who declined to use Porzingis in post-ups and instead wanted to use his deep shooting to space the floor. Now, Porzingis says he feels more comfortable around Kidd, who relates better to players and has been more collaborative and willing to communicate with players.

“My teammates have been trusting me,” Porzingis said. “The coaching staff is trusting me and putting me in my most comfortable situations.”

Finally, regarding his relationship with Doncic, Porzingis says the two have made a significant step toward building chemistry and are communicating more to develop their relationship. Porzingis says he enjoys playing Doncic, who “makes the game easier for everybody” and “he does take a lot of the attention off everybody.”

“You just have to do it. Somebody has to take the first step,” Porzingis told NBA.com. “It’s all in the communication. It’s as simple as that. Problems arise when you don’t communicate about things and you don’t talk about it. So, we’re learning those things.”

Doncic is questionable Tuesday for the Mavs (9-7) game against the Clippers (10-7).

The post Kristaps Porzingis on His Comfortability with the Mavericks: ‘You Enjoy the Game Much More’ appeared first on SLAM.

“What’s up with the rubber band?” 

People ask me all the time. Explaining that I’ve worn one on my left wrist every day since middle school is always more awkward than I expect. 

But that’s when I saw KG on the debut cover of KICKS. 

“What’s up, dog?” it read. 

I was 13—and that magazine changed my life. 

The youthfulness of the League’s first prep-to-pros player in 20 years was understood. A 22-year-old KG was also fresh off his very first signature shoe with Nike, had just inked the lockout-inducing $126 million contract and was re-defining the concept of positionless basketball for a new generation. 

He represented the future of the League as it evolved into a post-MJ era—and seeing him grace the first-ever cover of SLAM’s offshoot KICKS magazine was a perfect fit. 

“Kevin said he wanted to be remembered as the one player that had fun every single time he went out there,” former Nike exec David Bond recalled on page 11, of KG’s very first Swoosh meeting.

I’ve always loved that quote. Hoops is fun. Sneakers are fun. I’ve tried to carry that same youthfulness with me ever since.

It’s been a long ass time, but the rubber band—from an endless supply of 3 1/2” x 1/4” bands that I switch out weekly—has been a daily reminder ever since of why I do what I do. And I’ve got KG and SLAM to thank for that. 

When the issue dropped in the fall of 1998, there had never been anything like it. 

“You can write about sneakers?” I remember thinking, while reading about sneakers. 

It was all new territory, and seeing and holding a tangible extension of that meant everything to me. The SLAM team might not have even realized it, but that single issue opened the doors to what kids around the country even thought was possible. 

Our understanding of “working in sneakers” at the time was that working at Foot Locker would be cool, off the strength of just getting a discount. No one even knew an entire world surrounding the game that we all loved existed as a career path. Whether that meant working in the sneaker industry at a brand in design or marketing, or writing about the players and pairs that moved the needle, that first KICKS issue was eye-opening. 

Multiple sneaker magazines, dozens of footwear-centric blogs, and seemingly millions of Instagram pages—focused just on kicks—all followed.

The issue was also insanely informative, providing every reader with a foundation of footwear knowledge that would basically supercharge the generation of kids hopping onto the Niketalk and Sole Collector forums at the start of the 2000s. 

It was one thing to think “the patent leather Jordans” were a sick shoe or to have heard the legend of the Air Jordan XIII being inspired by MJ’s “Black Cat” nickname, but when KICKS dropped, there was a full lineage of every Air Jordan model, all together on a two-page spread. 

The 10-page stretch that followed it was a literal encyclopedia of “every Nike Basketball sneaker ever,” as the cover promised. Listed out in order were product shots of all 378 of the Nike models that had hit retail by that point. (No. 278 is the greatest hoop design of all time, by the way. The very next one, the Air Thrill Flight at No. 279, was the first pair of Nikes I owned, thanks to my $40 budget growing up.)

Later in the mag, there were actual features and interviews with sneakers designers—another first. The only industry name that anyone knew was Tinker Hatfield, and here was a three-page spread, each on Eric Avar and Aaron Cooper—both with hair! The duo designed Nike Basketball’s most iconic silhouettes of the ’90s for the likes of Penny Hardaway, Scottie Pippen, Jason Kidd and Gary Payton. 

On page 87, I found myself staring at not only Avar for the very first time, but also the shoes I had just finished my seventh grade basketball season in—a black and green variation of Dennis Rodman’s Air Shake NDestrukt that I snagged for $19.99 at Ross. (Our team colors were also green—so it’s quite possibly my all-time favorite find.) 

The exaggerated grooves of Avar’s sketch, along with a reversed Swoosh and “NIKE” text over the heel Air window were all different details than the shoe sitting in my bedroom, sparking my curiosity and imagination for what else I could uncover from Nike’s archives of what-if designs and concepts. 

Cooper’s first-person penned piece on Pip’s second shoe connected how an athlete’s insight and involvement could drastically shift where a design is headed, after Coop admitted he worked up the first, more bulky, Air Pippen model without much input from Scottie. 

Both of Russ Bengtson’s features and framing laid the foundation of how I envisioned a designer profile reading. So I started to develop a roadmap of how I could get there. I became the sports editor of my high school’s paper a few years later. Russ pointed out that Nike was located in Oregon—so I went to the University of Oregon, studied Magazine in the School of Journalism, and would make the drive north often to try and make connections in Beaverton. 

From my very first “Focus: Artist” article in a 2006 issue of Sole Collector that highlighted an undiscovered talent named Justin Taylor, to the countless designer interviews I’ve conducted ever since with the likes of Jason Petrie, Leo Chang and the rest of the team that carried on the torch at Nike Basketball, KICKS was the blueprint all along. 

Each of the first times I interviewed that celebrated trio of Hatfield, Avar and Cooper during the late 2000s, I remember thinking back to the pages of the first KICKS issue a decade earlier. Talking to Coop about his Garnett 3 design, a vibrant, fading black and blue sneaker that I wore in high school, was an all-time moment. 

A handful of years after that first issue had dropped, in 2003, I have a pretty distinct memory from around 4 am on a spring Friday night. I was at my high school’s “Grad Night,” and they had a standard exercise for all of the students to participate in.

A massive white paper roll waved out in front of us over the auditorium floor, and I remember one of our teacher chaperones yelling out “Grab a Sharpie, and write down what you’ll be doing in 10 years!” 

I didn’t hesitate for a second. 

“I’m gonna write about sneakers, for SLAM,” I told myself.    

And it all started with a picture of Kevin Garnett and a rubber band. 

KEVIN GARNETT: Anything Is Possible is a feature-length chronicle of Kevin Garnett’s remarkable career and the pivotal moments that defined it. Stream the documentary on SHOWTIME. 

Photos via Getty Images.

The post How Kevin Garnett’s SLAM Presents KICKS Vol. 1 Cover Changed One Sneaker Insider’s Life appeared first on SLAM.

There is good news, though, Mavs fans! According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, the Mavericks believe the ankle injury is “not too serious.”

MacMahon also reported that Doncic will miss some time, but the Mavs hope it’s “not an extended stretch.”

Doncic will miss at least one game, as he’s already been ruled out by the Mavericks for their Wednesday night game against the Phoenix Suns (10-3).

Dallas will undoubtedly miss Doncic’s contributions, as he’s been one of the best players in the NBA since his rookie season in 2018-19. Through four seasons, Doncic has averaged 25.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game.

Doncic has also already been named to two All-Star teams and two All-NBA teams, and with his numbers early on this season, he could easily up those numbers to three. Doncic is averaging 24.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game so far this season.

The Mavs have had a strong start to the season under new head coach Jason Kidd, and are currently third in the Western Conference with a record of 9-4.

The post REPORT: Mavericks Not Concerned About Luka Doncic’s Ankle Injury appeared first on SLAM.

However, the young center has played in just three games before being shut down for back stiffness. Now after missing four games including the most recent loss to the Miami Heat, Jason Kidd announced the team’s plan to bring him back on Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs.

Kristaps Porzingis is “progressing” and will “hopefully” play tomorrow night vs. Spurs, Jason Kidd said. Porzingis is out for fourth straight game due to lower back stiffness.

Maxi Kleber will be out at least 7-10 days due to an oblique strain.

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) November 2, 2021

Porzingis can make an immediate impact by helping the team’s rebounding totals. Since he’s been injured, the Mavericks are amongst the worse, 28th, in the League in rebounding percentage.

In the three games, Porzingis did play; he has struggled, averaging just 12.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game with a shooting percentage of only 30.2 percent. A noticeable dip from his career averages of 18.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game on 44.0 percent shooting from the field.

For the Mavericks to take the anticipated next step towards championship contention, they’ll need Porzingis to get healthy and play well this season.

The post Mavericks Head Coach Jason Kidd Says Kristaps Porzingis is “Progressing and Could Return Against Spurs appeared first on SLAM.

“It means a lot, man. I’m grateful and I thank god for this opportunity,” Paul said per the Arizona Republic.

“I say it all the time, not only to be on the team and still be in the league but to be playing. You know you don’t take that for granted. … But to be third, man, and still be playing, I’m grateful for it and still have a ways to go.”

Going into the matchup against the Pelicans, Paul was fifth all-time on the list, just six dimes behind Jackson and seven behind Nash. Paul pushed past Jackson at the end of the first quarter, giving a pass to Devin Booker, who then hit a 27-foot three-pointer.

Paul propelled past Nash with 1:34 left in the second from a dish to Jae Crowder, who scored a three-pointer from the right-wing. At 36-years-old and playing in his 16th season in the League, Paul has more time behind him than ahead. However, he has ways to go before catching up to Jason Kidd (12,091) and John Stockton (15,806) on the all-time assists list.

“When I first came into the League and I seen that John Stockton, I was like, ‘I’m gonna get it.’ That shipped sailed. That shipped sailed a while ago when I started missing all them games,” Paul told the Arizona Republic.

Still, this is just the latest milestone that CP3 has achieved so far this season. Just last month, he became the first player in NBA history to record 20,000 points and 10,000 assists in a win against the Lakers.

The Suns are now 3-3 and will play the Rockets on Thursday.

The post Chris Paul Passes Mark Jackson and Steve Nash For No.3 All-Time in Assists appeared first on SLAM.

The 7-footer came into the 2021-22 season fully healthy, but had a slow start. Through the first three games of the season, Porzingis averaged just 12.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game while shooting 30.2% from the floor. 

To make things worse, he left that third game of the season early due to lower back soreness. Since then, he’s missed three consecutive contests with this lingering back issue. 

Luckily for Dallas, the team has looked solid in the absence of Porzingis. In the three full games Porzingis has missed, the Mavs have gone 2-1. 

“We just wanted to play a lot better to start the game no matter whoever is on the floor,” said Tim Hardaway Jr. following Sunday’s win over the Sacramento Kings. 

The wins haven’t necessarily been pretty, but they’re victories nonetheless. The big loss this week was on the road against the Denver Nuggets, when the Mavericks lost by 31 points and really missed Porzingis’ presence. 

It’s unclear whether he will be available for Dallas’ next game on Tuesday against the Miami Heat, but there’s at least some optimism that his back is getting better. 

“He’s doing better, so that’s a good thing,” said Mavs coach Jason Kidd on Friday.

The Mavericks went 26-17 with Porzingis in the lineup last season. His health this season will make a direct impact on the success of Dallas. 

They’re currently 4-2 on the season overall with a perfect 3-0 record at home. 

The post Kristaps Porzingis Misses Third-Straight Game, Mavs Still Look Solid appeared first on SLAM.

If you search “Scottie Barnes player comparisons” on Google, you get a wide range of responses. Draymond Green. Jabari Parker. Bam Adebayo. Patrick Williams. Pascal Siakam. Giannis Antetokounmpo. Lamar Odom. OG Anunoby. 

The website NBA Draft Room offers perhaps the broadest spectrum of possibilities: 

“stronger Nicolas Batum”

“dare I say a poor man’s Magic Johnson?”

“taller Draymond Green” 

When we profiled Barnes back in 2019, Jim Carr—his then-coach at University School—brought up two other interesting names: “We were watching clips the other day when they were announcing the All-Americans and they were showing Penny Hardaway,” he told SLAM. “Penny loved to pass the ball. The flare. People say [they see] a lot of Ben Simmons in him, but I always go back to Penny Hardaway.” Barnes himself—who was just a sophomore at the time—likened his game to the Greek Freak: “I would say Giannis, because I’m very long, get to the basket, I’m athletic, and I could rebound the ball and do multiple things.”

For what it’s worth, Draymond Green is probably the name that pops up the most. But all the comparisons—even the ones that seem far-fetched or not quite bold enough—allude to three key characteristics that have come to define Barnes as a player: his size, athleticism and versatility. 

At 6-9, 227 pounds, with a crazy 7-3 wingspan, Barnes has the build of an imposing forward and the agility of a traditional guard. In fact, he ran the point during his sole season at Florida State. While “officially” listed as a forward by the NBA, Barnes’ own Instagram bio reads: “6-9 PG.” He is the prototypical position-less player in an increasingly position-less NBA. He can defend pretty much anyone who steps on the floor (like a combo forward) and orchestrate the offense up top (like a true guard), having led FSU in assists per game last season (4.1). Just check out the two clips below from the Raptors’ win against the Celtics. Dare I say… a poor man’s Magic Johnson?

Barnes finished that game—just his second as a pro—with 25 points, 13 rebounds and 2 assists. 

His outside shooting has always been the biggest question mark. He connected on just 28% of his 1.7 three-point attempts per game in college. But when Barnes gets downhill and attacks the paint aggressively, he is very, very difficult to stop. In other words, while his jumper continues to develop, Barnes can find ways to score just by relying on his physical gifts. Through five games, he’s averaged 17.0 points on 54% shooting from the field. Of his 67 total FGAs, 55 have been within 15 feet of the basket; and he has converted 71% of his attempts at the rim (17/24).

Raptors head coach Nick Nurse wants Barnes to be even more assertive, as he told reporters following a recent loss to the Mavericks, in which the rookie put up 17 points (10 in the fourth quarter alone) and 8 rebounds. 

“What I think he needs to do is more of the things he did at the end [of the game]. Like, when he has the space in a one-on-one matchup, he’s gotta put them in the rim until they stop him,” Nurse said. “He’s gotta put them in the rim until they stop him. Over and over and over and over and over again. And if they do back off and he has to pull up for a 10 or 12-footer, that’s fine, too. But there’s where we’re going to see his passing show up, once he starts drawing other defenders. And again, that’s just him being—he needs to be more aggressive. All those layups you saw in a row, we need to double that number of attempts or triple it even until they stop it. And then we’ll be in the paint and we’ll be firing it out to our open shooters.”

Forget the scoring for a second, though. Toronto drafted Barnes with the No. 4 overall pick because he doesn’t have to score to be impactful (there were plenty of pure scorers available). It’s certainly a welcome bonus when he does—especially since the Raptors have the 23^rd ranked offense in the NBA as of this writing—but the former Seminole does so much else to impact winning. He competes with great energy and intensity (see below—another reason the Draymond comparison is fitting). He crashes the boards effectively (averaging 8.2 rpg so far) and embraces any challenge on defense (he’s already guarded Bradley Beal, Jayson Tatum and Luka Doncic). He handles the ball well and pushes the pace in transition. And, as Nurse touched on, the more he gets in the paint, the more opportunities he’ll be able to create for others.

When a 20-year-old can do all that, finding the right comparison isn’t easy. Even Hall of Famers are in awe of Barnes’ talent at this early stage in his career.  

“Scottie Barnes is a heck of a rookie. He’s a great player,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said recently. “He is really, really good. He causes a problem on both ends of the floor and he knows how to play the game. He’s gonna be a star in this league, if he’s not already a star.” 

The post SLAM x Panini Rookie Spotlight: Scottie Barnes appeared first on SLAM.

Sports Illustrated took over a decade to figure out a blueprint for what their magazine should look like.

SLAM took one issue.

The magazine would change over time. Their voice would evolve. The magazine cover looks drastically different today. But flip through a present-day issue of SLAM, and it still reads pretty much the same from front to back as the very first issue, which came out almost 30 years ago. 

The first issue of SLAM featured short-bit culture stories on Pearl Jam’s near-decision to name themselves after Atlanta Hawks guard Mookie Blaylock and basketball’s growing popularity in Japan. There’s a dunk of the month. There’s a one-page feature on high schooler Steve Wojciechowski, along with profiles of college point guard Jason Kidd, perennial NBA All-Star Charles Barkley, and New York–playground legend Joe Hammond. There are full-page photospreads of the latest sneaker releases, and a six-page photo essay on playground hoopers around the country, including a cameo from a 16-year-old Paul Pierce. 

This is what SLAM still is today: a magazine celebrating the sport of basketball. A casual voice. An all-encompassing approach of covering high school, college, and the pro game. A magazine highlighting sneakers and athletic apparel. A personality-driven publication. A magazine that didn’t tie themselves to the current news cycle.

Founder and publisher Dennis Page established a blueprint for what a modern-day basketball publication could look like from the very beginning.

“We were passionate,” he said. “The feel of the magazine was like if you were playing in the playground. That’s how people spoke.”

Page was inside the Paramount Theater at Madison Square Garden where the 1994 Source Awards was taking place when record label executive and friend Alan Grunblatt tossed out the idea of a magazine merging basketball and hip-hop. He went home that evening and drafted up a table of contents.

A Trenton, New Jersey, native, Page studied broadcasting and film at Boston University and got his first full-time job selling ads for the alt- weekly Boston Phoenix. Page loved magazines. He dreamed of running his own one day. The goal was always Rolling Stone. Page was working for another rock ’n’ roll magazine, Circus, in 1980 when Stanley Harris called. Harris was the founder of Harris Publications, a New York–based publisher started in 1977 with a portfolio of special-interest magazines. They had puzzle books and monthly magazines on topics ranging from gardening to guns. Page was offered a job to manage a new guitar magazine. It was a chance to run a magazine even if it wasn’t Rolling Stone. 

“I didn’t know shit about playing guitars,” Page said. “But I was good at the advertising and publishing business. So I said yes.”

He became the publisher of Guitar World, which arrived on newsstands in 1980 and became the number one guitar magazine. The success of the publication earned him a lot of goodwill with Harris. Page kept searching for the next idea. He convinced Harris to start another magazine in 1987. It was called New York Talk.

“We launched it during a huge snowstorm and couldn’t get the issue out to the newsstands,” Page recalled. “It was an omen of failure.” 

The magazine borrowed from the concepts of Village Voice and the East Village Eye and covered the local news along with the New York film, television, and music scene. The newsstand was about taking a successful idea you liked and trying to improve upon it yourself. A lot of these publications failed, including New York Talk, which folded after three years.

Page’s new magazine idea, inspired by his conversation with Grunblatt, was more aligned with his interests. He fell in love with basketball in sixth grade watching a high schooler named Lew Alcindor, became a high school and college hoops junkie, watched streetball legends at New York playgrounds, and joined the NBA craze during the era of Julius Erving, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson.

But he couldn’t figure out the table of contents.

“I started by building a hip-hop magazine about basketball,” Page explained.

He had the two components in the wrong order.

Another lightbulb moment hit.

It would be a basketball magazine with a hip-hop voice and not the other way around.

It would look like Vibe.

It would read like The Source.

He pitched the idea to Harris, who asked him to get it on newsstands immediately.

Page needed an editor-in-chief. He called Village Voice editor Tom Curtis, who said no, but recommended Time Inc. writer Cory Johnson, a St. Joseph, Michigan, native who studied journalism at NYU and wrote for a bunch of magazines, including Sports Illustrated, People, and TIME.

“Tom told me this guy who makes Guitar World wants to start a new basketball magazine and asked me if I had any ideas for it,” Johnson recalled. “I said, ‘Abso-fuckng-lute-ly I have ideas.’ I was in the thick of learning how magazines were made. It was what I did all day.” 

A meeting was set at a French bistro restaurant located in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan, New York, named Raoul’s. Johnson sat down and pitched his vision to Page. He read a lot of Marvel comics growing up and loved how comic book writer Stan Lee would engage readers at the back of every one of them. Lee responded to fan letters and sent no-prizes—an envelope with no contents inside, which became a running joke with the readers—to anyone who wrote to him about continuity errors or typos. Johnson wanted the magazine to start by engaging their readers in the letters section.

“I presented a pretty laid-out plan,” he recalled. “There would be short features in the front like New York Magazine’s Intelligencer section. There would be one-page profiles like Interview magazine. The features section would be in the style of Vanity Fair. The sections in the back would be devoted to angles around the business of hoops. I wanted the last page of the magazine to be a dunk of the month.

“I wanted it to feel like Surfer magazine. I loved that magazine so much I taught myself to surf. Their ideal was: surfing was not about the celebrities at the top of the pyramid who did it, but instead it was about the everyday experience of the sport. I always thought Sports Illustrated had this pyramid when it came to basketball where they didn’t love the game, but instead they loved the heroes of the game. Their editors thought it was all about the stars and not about the game itself. I wanted to flip that approach upside-down. I wanted the magazine to be about the experience we all had playing the game of basketball. Sports Illustrated was only about Michael Jordan. I wanted us to be about the game of basketball.” 

There was one last thing they needed to figure out together.

A name for the magazine.

The two tossed out every basketball-related term they could think of. 

Crossover.

Dribble.

Jam.

None of them felt right.

They finally landed on SLAM.

Johnson was hired and moonlighted as the magazine’s editor-in-chief. “I would be fact-checking a murder story for People and I’d get a phone call from Dennis,” Johnson said. “I would hop in a taxi, race downtown to approve a layout, then race back. It was like I had moved on to my new girlfriend without telling my existing girlfriend.”

Page scrambled to place ads in the magazine. Today, he credits The Source and Vibe for making his job easier back then. Page didn’t have to explain what hip-hop was to advertisers. Guitar World art director Susan Conley designed the magazine layout. Johnson assigned stories to people he knew in the industry, including basketball writer and New York–streetball historian Vincent Mallozzi, People reporter Nancy Jo Sales, and Vibe senior editor Bonz Malone. He also wrote a couple of stories himself and attributed them to made-up names in the masthead. “I wanted to make it look like a real magazine since it was just a couple of other guys and myself working on it,” Johnson explained. “Russell Shoemaker, the senior editor in the masthead, that’s me. Russell was my best friend from church. Shoemaker was my godfather’s last name. I just put their names together.” 

Page cringes at some of the stories today, especially a SLAM NBA All-White Team feature where the magazine interviewed white players around the league and nominated Chris Mullin, Dan Majerle, Detlef Schrempf, Tom Gugliotta, John Stockton, and Rony Seikaly. Scott Hastings, a white power forward from Independence, Kansas, who played 11 seasons in the NBA, nominated Karl Malone, who didn’t make the team. “The guy drives a diesel and raises cattle,” he explained. “You don’t get any whiter than that.” 

Fortune business writer Andy Serwer flew to Charlotte, North Carolina, and wrote the cover story on Larry Johnson. The Hornets forward was one of the most exciting young stars in the league. Selected first overall by Charlotte in 1991, Johnson won Rookie of the Year after averaging 19.2 points and 11.0 rebounds in his first season. He played an above-the-rim game and was a product of a UNLV team that embraced a hip-hop aesthetic. Johnson was a signature sneaker athlete with Converse, starring in a series of popular commercials wearing a grey wig and flower-print dress as Grandmama, an elderly woman alter-ego. He fit the profile of what SLAM envisioned as their ideal cover subject.

The first issue was finally ready for the newsstand. 

The cover featured a photo of Johnson soaring in mid-air wearing Charlotte’s famous white-and-teal jersey. The basketball in his right hand sat just above the magazine’s logo. Above the logo was the magazine’s slogan THE IN YOUR FACE BASKETBALL MAGAZINE. The caption said LARRY JOHNSON, LIVIN’ LARGE! Cover lines filled the rest of the cover, including BARKLEY: KING WITHOUT  A CROWN; KILLER BLOCKS! SHAQ, ROBINSON, MOURNING, OLAJUWON & MORE; JASON KIDD’S KRAZY MAD MOVES; KENTUCKY’S BLUE MADNESS; SLAMBOYANT SNEAKS; and SLAMADAMONTH! Every caption was a way to draw a potential reader into picking up the magazine.

Page waited to see if anyone was interested in his new project. 

“That was the business at the time,” he explained. “There was no internet, Instagram, or Facebook. The newsstand was the true test of whether there was a community out there who cared about your idea. We would have three issues to test whether there was an audience. If it sold, we would keep it rolling. If it didn’t, then we wouldn’t.”

There was some concern about starting a basketball magazine immediately after Jordan retired, but they were alleviated when Harris delivered some excellent news. The newsstand sales were strong enough for SLAM to continue. A second issue arrived on newsstands in October of 1994, with Seattle Supersonics forward Shawn Kemp on the cover. Johnson was replaced by Tony Gervino on the masthead three months later when Shaquille O’Neal appeared on the cover of the magazine’s third issue. He had accepted a job offer to become a Vibe senior editor.

“We sold more copies of our first issue than they did,” Johnson explained. “They spent like $15 million to launch it. We spent $100,000 tops. I was called into their office, and they asked me, ‘How did you do it?’ I explained how the magazine worked and what our editorial focus was. They asked me if I would be interested in being a senior editor. I figured I would eventually have a shot at the editor-in-chief role, so I made the jump.”

Today, he is still proud of leaving an editorial blueprint behind for his successors.

“The magazine unquestionably looked better in the years after I left,” Johnson said. “But the fact it is still largely all the same ideas I brought to the table is enormously gratifying to me and tells me I got a lot of stuff right. I didn’t get it right because I was a genius. I got it right because there was something wrong with the way magazines were covering sports.” 

***

IF YOU SCAN THE FIRST THREE ISSUES OF SLAM today, you’ll notice the cover photos didn’t come from original photoshoots. The photos of the early covers were licensed from the NBA. “None of the players would pose for us,” Page said. “We had to buy existing photography in the very beginning.” SLAM had a vision to one day follow the lead of Rolling Stone. Founder and publisher Jann Wenner was a 21-year-old UC Berkeley dropout who couldn’t get anyone to take his music writing seriously in 1967 when he scraped together $7,500 from family and friends and convinced San Francisco Chronicle writer Ralph J. Gleason to help him put together a new magazine. The first issue of Rolling Stone arrived on newsstands in the same year, with John Lennon of The Beatles on the cover. The magazine debuted at the height of the hippie movement and became the definitive counterculture magazine of their era, introducing a new generation of artists, including the Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, and Janis Joplin, to the world. Wenner described Rolling Stone as “a publication not just about music but also about the things and attitudes that music embraces” in his first column. The magazine plucked writers from obscure places and turned them into culture-defining voices. Their photographers captured defining images of an entire generation of rock stars. The magazine’s portrait photography of cover subjects set the standard for every other publi- cation. Being selected for the Rolling Stone cover became the highest honor for any music artist. 

“Jann broke the mold on alternative magazine publishing,” Page said. “As far as I’m concerned, they changed print publishing. The way Rolling Stone shot their covers provided the vision for every magazine that came after them. Nobody had shot athletes that way before and we wanted to be the first. We would consider ourselves lucky if we could shoot a cover that was one-tenth as good as Rolling Stone.”

By the time SLAM published their first issue, Rolling Stone was no longer a cultural force on the newsstand. The magazine, which was once bursting with creative energy, grew into a $250 million conglomerate in the 1980s and lost the qualities that defined them. The Rolling Stone cover increasingly became a landing spot for established celebrities and was no longer a birthplace for new stars. A writer who joined the mag- azine in 1993 compared his new job to showing up to the party just in time to see a cigarette floating in the last cocktail of the night.

SLAM’s goal was to become the modern-day basketball version of Rolling Stone, embracing the same rebellious streak which gave birth to the rock ’n’ roll magazine three decades earlier.

But they needed to find their voice first. 

Cover Story: The NBA and Modern Basketball as Told Through its Most Iconic Magazine Covers is reprinted with permission from Triumph Books. All rights reserved.

The post The Story of How SLAM Was Founded, as Told By Those Who Were There appeared first on SLAM.

If the Mavericks simply just released Burke it would be a costly move considering he is owed more than $6 million this season and next season—yet, Dallas is “expected” to continue exploring trade scenarios.

Trey Burke revived his career last season in the bubble, helping Dallas take two games from the heavily-favored Los Angeles Clippers in the 2019-20 playoffs. He averaged 6.6 points and 1.3 assists last season.

Burke has recently shared his opinion regarding the vaccine—last week, he discussed his views to the media after a recent practice.

Burke in a follow-up explains what his decision-making process will entail in terms of deciding whether to get vaccinated. Jason Kidd has said Mavs are working toward 100% vaccination. pic.twitter.com/W0PhxGHLRa

— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) September 29, 2021

The post Dallas Mavericks Explored Trade Options For Trey Burke This Offseason appeared first on SLAM.

On Monday, Kidd told media members that he anticipates Porzingis to start at power forward and not center this season.

Kidd said the transition is to help Porzingis “be a basketball player” and not just a spot-up shooter from three. He also hopes for Porzingis to expand his offensive role in 2021-22 by putting the ball on the floor more and taking more midrange jump shots.

This will be a change for Porzingis, who has primarily operated as a center throughout his NBA career. Nonetheless, a swap to the forward position may bring back the performance he seemingly lacked last year (primarily due to injury).

Popularly dubbed “The Unicorn” for his unique combination of size and skill, Porzingis has played in five seasons in the NBA after being drafted fourth overall by the New York Knicks in 2015.

In 286 career games, Porzingis has averaged 18.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.

The Mavericks will need an improved performance from Porzingis to take the next step forward as a franchise, as last year’s team couldn’t get out of the first round of the NBA Playoffs, losing in six games to the Los Angeles Clippers.

The post Jason Kidd Aiming for Kristaps Porzingis to Play Power Forward this Season appeared first on SLAM.

A new hypothetical has hit the horizon as former Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce reveals that he was nearly traded to the the Dallas Mavericks in 2007.

In an article in Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix, Pierce discusses the events leading to the near-trade, one that would have allowed him to team up with All-Stars Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd.

“I’m in my Prime and I’m watching all these other guys in the playoffs,” Pierce told Mannix. “It was depressing I thought was out of there. I thought it was over.”

Pierce goes on to recount meeting Mavericks owner Mark Cuban in Las Vegas and telling the gregarious billionaire, “I’m your missing piece.”

Chiming in on Twitter, Cuban recalls that there was indeed a three-team trade orchestrated to bring Pierce to Dallas but that the deal fell through because one of the team’s was unwilling to send a first-round draft pick to the Celtics.

It gets better. We had a deal done. We had a 3 way trade done. All teams agreed to their part of the deal. When we get on the trade call, the 3rd team killed the deal because they didnt know that a first was going to the Celtics. They chose not to do the deal at all.

— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) September 7, 2021

In the 2006-07 season, Boston went 24-58, the second-worst record in the NBA prior to Pierce’s trade request.

However, the Celtics would go on to acquire star guard Ray Allen in the 2007 offseason in a draft day trade involving Jeff Green, Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West before trading for former Minnesota Timberwolves cornerstone Kevin Garnett a month later.

While Boston would go on to win the 2008 NBA Championship after defeating Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in one of the most memorable NBA Finals matchups of all-time, the Mavericks would take down the newly-formed Miami Heat “Big Three” in 2011, in what was another unforgettable moment in hardwood history.

All’s well that ends well, as they say.

The post Paul Pierce, Mark Cuban Recount Near Blockbuster Trade Between Celtics and Mavericks appeared first on SLAM.

Dudley will be a front of the bench assistant under Mavs head coach Jason Kidd, who was hired earlier in the summer due to the departure of Rick Carlisle (now the head coach of the Indiana Pacers).

Last week, the Mavericks hired former WNBA star Kristi Tolliver as an assistant coach, where she and former Phoenix Suns head coach Igor Kokoskov (said to have a strong relationship with Mavs star Luka Doncic) will headline the bench.

Strategist Greg St. Jean, a former assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers (where Dudley played for the past two seasons) and Sean Sweeney (who served under Kidd at two stops previously) are also newcomers to Dallas’ coaching staff.

With Tolliver, Kokoskov, St. Jean and Sweeney each bringing a wealth of coaching experience, albeit in various roles, Dudley could hardly ask for a better constructed staff to surround him at the beginning of his new journey.

The post Jared Dudley Agrees to Assistant Coach Role with Mavs After 14 NBA Seasons appeared first on SLAM.

Shortly after signing this new deal, the Mavericks held a press conference in Slovenia, which included Doncic, Mark Cuban, Jason Kidd, Nico Harrison, among others. 

One thing that stuck out was Doncic wanting to improve team chemistry. After taking Slovenia all the way to the bronze medal game in the Tokyo Olympics, he saw what real team chemistry looks like. 

As such, Doncic talked about wanting to carry that over into his play with the Mavericks going forward. 

“I think one of the most important things to winning is the chemistry on the court. I think that’s what we need in Dallas,” said Doncic on Tuesday. 

He attributed a lot of the success his home team had in the Olympics to being on the same page and having each other’s backs. 

While the Mavericks did add a few small pieces to the roster in free agency, it appears the next step towards becoming a championship team is building chemistry. 

The post Luka Doncic Hopes For Better Team Chemistry In Upcoming Season appeared first on SLAM.

.@KDTrey5 on the glass, @Dame_Lillard loading up at the arc. You gotta love it.

#USABMNT pic.twitter.com/gTY0f22gnU

— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 8, 2021

After dealing with constant speculation of Portland’s coaching change, starting with his public endorsement of Jason Kidd, Lillard said this week that he’ll keep his thoughts on the direction of the team between himself and the franchise, via ESPN.

“Anything that I have to say, I’m going to say directly to [Blazers general manager] Neil [Olshey] and I’m going to address it directly with my team,” Lillard said after the third day of Team USA training camp in Las Vegas. “There’s really nothing else I have to say about it.”

Yahoo! Sports reported last month that the Blazers’ coaching search that landed Chauncey Billups and the possible inability to build a contending roster could lead to a Lillard trade request. Lillard didn’t deny the report, only regretting that his feelings were made public.

Portland received social media backlash over the hiring of Billups when details of a 1997 rape allegation resurfaced prior to him being named as head coach. Lillard’s criticism on social media because of his support during the search process caused tension between Lillard and the franchise’s fanbase.

Really? I was asked what coaches I like of the names I “heard” and I named them. Sorry I wasn’t aware of their history I didn’t read the news when I was 7/8yrs old. I don’t support Those things … but if this the route y’all wana come at me… say less https://t.co/N1GPkX3Ohd

— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) June 26, 2021

When asked about his endorsement of Billups’ hire, Lillard claimed the process of making and vetting the decision was done by the team.

“In the past I’ve never stepped on anybody’s toes or demanded anything or told anybody what to do, and it was no different in this situation.” 

The Portland Trail Blazers recently hired Scott Brooks to Chauncey Billups’ staff.

The post Damian Lillard Says He’ll Keep His Thoughts On Future Between Himself, Team appeared first on SLAM.

Just two months after the New Orleans Hornets made the 6-1, All-American point guard from Wake Forest the fourth overall pick in the draft, Hurricane Katrina swept through New Orleans and the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005, causing catastrophic damage and mass casualties. 

“I’ll never forget being home in North Carolina and waking up and looking at the news,” Paul recalled in an interview on the Knuckleheads podcast in 2020. “We ended up relocating to Oklahoma for two years.” 

Chance, misfortune and—some might argue—fate opened the door for a city that nobody thought could support something that otherwise seemed so out of their league.

“It is one thing to sort of dream and hope for major league status, but we really didn’t do a whole lot of that,” said Berry Tramel, a long-time sports columnist for The Oklahoman. “It just sort of landed in our laps.”

“We were all homeless.”

Michael Thompson, the former New Orleans Hornets Director of Corporate Communications, remembers the time vividly. “My home was under 10 feet of water.”

While the majority of players were not in Louisiana when the storm hit (training camp wasn’t scheduled to start for another month), many of their and the Hornets staff’s homes were destroyed, like tens of thousands of other New Orleans residents’ homes.

As staff members dispersed across the country for safety, the immediate future of the franchise was uncertain. With training camp set to open five weeks after the storm, and the regular season a month after that, decisions had to be made, and made swiftly.

Candidates for temporary relocation destinations spanned coast to coast, even spilling internationally. Kansas City, Las Vegas, San Diego, Vancouver, Montreal, Tampa, Nashville, Anaheim, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and even San Juan, Puerto Rico, were all reportedly considered.

Oklahoma City (pop. 550,000 in 2005) didn’t initially fit the profile. Sure, college sports were colossal in the state, but other than triple-A baseball, there was no major sports team at the time. In the late ’90s, the city submitted a failed bid to acquire an NHL expansion franchise. But OKC already had a turnkey arena in the Ford Center (now Chesapeake Energy Arena), a $90 million modern venue built in 2002 specifically to attract an NBA or NHL franchise. OKC was also within relative distance (700 miles) of New Orleans and teams within the Southwest Division.

“We never even sniffed the NBA or thought of the NBA as a possibility until the hurricane,” said Tramel. “A couple of civic and city leaders with some foresight hatched the idea and made it work really quick.”

By September 21, 2005, eight days out from training camp, the franchise held a press conference announcing they would play 35 of their home games in OKC and the remaining six in Baton Rouge. The New Orleans/OKC Hornets were official.

The first meeting of the day would start at 6 am. A group of team officials would attend an event like a rotary club breakfast, make a pitch and walk out with 50 Hornets season tickets sold. They would repeat this five or six times at different organizations. At 11 pm, 60 Hornets employees would have their daily staff meeting from a ballroom at the downtown Sheraton that would spill into the next morning. This routine went on seven days a week for a month.

“Those four weeks, we had to accomplish in every 24-hour period what a normal expansion franchise would do in a month,” Thompson said. “The season was going to start whether we’re ready or not.”

The players also rushed to get situated. Unlike playing in New York City or Los Angeles, players took advantage of mid-sized city pricing. Chris Paul paid $750 in rent to share a home in Edmond with his brother, while JR Smith, his closest friend on the team, lived down the street. Desmond Mason, who had starred at Oklahoma State in the late ’90s, served as the official ambassador to the city for the team, helping them get acclimated to the nuances of Midwestern living.

“I was the guy that kind of kept everybody comfortable when all the tornado sirens went off or when there was golf-sized hail and guys were freaking out not knowing what to do,” said Mason, who was traded to the Hornets right before the season.

Easing the transition for the Hornets organization was the immediate support from the basketball thirsty community.

 “The thing I remember most was just the excitement that the Oklahoma City Hornets brought to town,” said Trae Young, who grew up in Norman, OK. “I was already in love with the game prior to their arrival in OKC, but that definitely added fuel to the fire.”

 Young was just 7 years old when the Hornets arrived, but for older locals, the presence of the team was an opportunity to bring joy and a fresh identity to an area that endured horrific tragedy themselves. In 1995, the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City was bombed by a domestic terrorist, killing 168 people, including children.

 For a franchise that was in the process of healing from Katrina and a city that could relate, basketball became another common bond between the Hornets and OKC. 

 “The least we could do is go out and play as hard as we can,” Paul told reporters after the team’s first game, a sold-out home victory over the Sacramento Kings. “We feel like we owe a lot to this city and the state of Oklahoma for accepting us.”

18 and 64.

That was the record (second-worst in the League) of the Hornets the season before. They played to half-empty stands (literally, the Hornets were dead last in attendance) at the New Orleans Arena. Only eight players from that 2004-05 team returned.

“We thought they would stink,” said Tramel. “A lot of people speculated that because the Hornets were billed as a temporary team, that people would really come out just to watch the other teams and their stars.

“But within no later than two or three games, the whole city just went ga-ga over the Hornets themselves.”

The team turnaround started in training camp. Coach Byron Scott had his blend of misfits do military-type conditioning drills, ensuring effort could compensate for a lack of talent. They stuck as a unit. At home they bowled together, on the road they ate together. It was a college-team atmosphere.

Donning Hornets jerseys with an “OKC” patch on the upper right shoulder, that camaraderie extended onto the court. Even though the team hovered around .500 most of the season, they were suddenly competitive, particularly at home where they had a 24-17 record.

“We caught a lot of teams off guard,” said Mason. “They thought that we were just gonna roll over and die.”

All of sudden the team started to forge that identity. There was that tenacious defense. There was Chris “Birdman” Andersen, who would thrill the crowd with his dunks. David West’s toughness and methodical mid-range game. Speedy Claxton, the emerging sixth man. And, Smith, who showed flashes of brilliance, with high flying dunks and deep threes—but often in Scott’s doghouse.

But the catalyst and leader of the team was the diminutive but tough-as-nails rookie who was putting up Jason Kidd-esque numbers.

“Chris had that leadership quality from the jump,” said Mason, who called Paul the best point guard he had ever played with. “He was always a guy that was vocal but also had respect because he had veterans on the team. He could see everything on the court, he was so beyond his years.”

Also fueling the team, perhaps in a greater way than even Paul could, were Oklahomans in the stands. They treated even preseason games like Game 7s.

“Crowd was crazy the first time we went there,” said Quentin Richardson, who played for the Knicks at the time. “[The OKC fans were] at the game early and visible during warmups. But once the game got going, we saw that they were more like a rowdy college crowd as opposed to most arenas in the NBA.”

The Hornets were also the biggest show in town off the court. They were rockstars. Players received free meals at upscale steakhouses and loaner cars from luxury dealerships. Coach Scott got free rounds of golf around town. Fans wore Paul jerseys and kids got haircuts like Birdman.

The Hornets also had a responsibility to the city and state that they left. On top of the games in Baton Rouge, they would return a few times per season to play in New Orleans. They would help build homes and raise money for Habitat for Humanity to help rebuild their city. Everybody, including fans in OKC, knew that they would eventually return to Louisiana.

Despite a strong start that inaugural season, the Hornets went on a freefall the last two months, losing 15 of their last 22 games.

“I think we lost to Utah the last week or two of the season when we were [mathematically] eliminated [from the playoffs],” said Claxton. “I remember in a locker room feeling crushed and I actually think I shed a tear or two.”

The Hornets finished 38-44, a 20-win improvement from the season before. The next season, a team that now featured Tyson Chandler, Bobby Jackson and Peja Stojakovic, OKC was on the fringe of an 8-seed, but again, fell a few games short.

After two years, it was time to return to New Orleans.

The success of the Hornets in town (they generated $65 million in revenue for the city in year one) encouraged the inception of the Thunder in 2008, when the Seattle SuperSonics were moved to OKC. In 12 seasons, the Thunder have reached the playoffs 10 times, the conference finals four times and made their sole NBA Finals appearance in 2012.

 Paul’s own Hall of Fame résumé is also well chronicled: Rookie of the Year; 11-time All-Star; Gold medal in Beijing; Lob City; and as we went to press, he was in the process of making a deep run with the Phoenix Suns in the 2021 postseason. In 2019-20, of course, Paul’s career went full circle, as he went back (and thrived) in the city where it all started, this time for the Thunder.

 “I think it’s truly special that CP [was] able to return to the city that he helped put on the map basketball-wise,” said Young. “It’s only right.”

 Paul became an All-Star and led the Thunder to the playoffs. Two months after the Thunder were eliminated by the Rockets in the bubble, Paul was traded to the Suns.

 Although Paul’s return to his OKC roots in 2019 undoubtedly brought nostalgia, there are limited proof points of their existence around town or even in the official books (literally, the NO/OKC official records aren’t recognized in the Thunder, Pelicans or Hornets’ media guides). However, those who lived it will tell you that the Oklahoma City Hornets were pioneers.

 “It’s a great feeling to know that I was part of something special,” said Mason, who also played for the Thunder in 2009 and currently lives in Oklahoma City. “It was a tragedy that made that happen. Without Hurricane Katrina, the Hornets never leave New Orleans. And if that never happens, the Thunder never show up, in my personal opinion.”

 But beyond business and what ifs, the OG Oklahoma City team conjures up a more humanistic legacy for Mason.

“I always get these little snippets that come across my social media that have the hashtag #OKCHornets. It just kind of sparks all those feelings of great times all over again.”

Gerald Narciso is a Vancouver-based freelance writer, whose work has appeared in the New York Times, Bleacher Report, and Sports Illustrated. A native of Salt Lake City, Utah, Gerald was cut from his high school varsity basketball team despite being able to effortlessly dunk a tennis ball. He now plays in corporate leagues where 20-year olds run circles around him. Follow him on Twitter @geraldnarciso.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post How Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets Left a Lasting Impact in OKC appeared first on SLAM.

The Lakers are finalizing a deal to hire former Knicks and Grizzlies coach David Fizdale as an assistant coach, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2021

Fizdale is known for his relationship with LeBron James when he was a longtime assistant on Erik Spoelstra’s staff with the Miami Heat during the “Big 3” era with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Wojnarowski reports that Fiz had several options for lead assistant openings before joining Frank Vogel’s staff.

David’s two opportunities as head coach have not been as successful as his time in Miami. Both head coaching tenures lasted less than two seasons with quick exits in the second seasons.

In New York, he was fired just 22 games into the 2019-20 season with a 21-83 overall as Knicks coach. In Memphis, Fizdale surprised many by taking the Grizzlies to the playoffs in his first season. It was then that he was known for his infamous rant that he closed with “take that for data!”.

The next season after reports of a falling out with Marc Gasol and questionable changes to the roster, he was fired after a 7-12 start in the 2017-18 season with a final record of 50-51 overall. A firing that LeBron, D-Wade, and others publicly questioned.

The Lakers are adding one of the more highly respected and well-liked coaches by players around the League with lots of coaching experience. Fizdale was an assistant with the Golden State Warriors in 2003-04, and the Atlanta Hawks (2004-08) before moving on to Miami from 2008 to 2016.

The post Los Angeles Lakers Close Deal On David Fizdale To Join Coaching Staff appeared first on SLAM.

Portland signed Chauncey Billups to a five-year contract on Sunday night.

Breaking: Chauncey Billups has reached an agreement on a five-year deal to become the head coach of the Trail Blazers, sources tell @wojespn. pic.twitter.com/r9C6JzHrU5

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 28, 2021

The conflicting reports of Lillard’s involvement in the coaching search along with concerns on building a contender may lead to Damian leaving according to Chris B. Haynes of Yahoo! Sports.

“The enormous backlash from the Portland Trail Blazers’ process to hire a new coach and his concerns on whether a championship contender can be built have become factors that may push the franchise player—Damian Lillard—out the door, league sources tell Yahoo! Sports.”

Social media backlash has been mounting on the hire based on a sexual assault allegation made against Billups back in 1997. Billups denied it and was never charged criminally. A civil settlement was reached.

Some of the backlash fell back on Lillard, who answered critics on Twitter.

Really? I was asked what coaches I like of the names I “heard” and I named them. Sorry I wasn’t aware of their history I didn’t read the news when I was 7/8yrs old. I don’t support Those things … but if this the route y’all wana come at me… say less https://t.co/N1GPkX3Ohd

— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) June 26, 2021

According to Haynes’s sources, the search was done by Neil Olshey, the president of basketball operations and none of the candidates interviewed were from suggestions from Lillard.

Lillard did endorse Jason Kidd for the job, but Kidd took his name out of consideration and eventually landed in Dallas last week.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported on his podcast that Damian was a part of the hiring process.

“I was told that he sat in on the interview for Chauncey Billups. It was virtual… he joined the Zoom meeting, but it’s not a normal thing I think for players to sit in on that.”

The Trail Blazers are scheduled to announce Chauncey Billups in a press conference on Tuesday.

The post Damian Lillard and Blazers Reportedly At Odds Over Chauncey Billups Hire appeared first on SLAM.

Two of the top NBA insiders reported the proceedings at the start of the weekend. First, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Friday night that the Blazers put Billups at the top of their wish list.

Billups — the 2004 NBA Finals MVP — was offered the Trail Blazers job tonight and will be the new Portland coach. https://t.co/R05tXu0KLP

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 26, 2021

Meanwhile, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the two sides had started their contract talks to reach a deal.

Billups will be replacing Terry Stotts, the Blazers coach since 2012 until the team parted ways with him after their first-round playoff loss to the Denver Nuggets.

Chauncey’s history with franchise superstar Damian Lillard, who reportedly went on record preferring either Billups and Jason Kidd along with Portland’s president of basketball operations, Neil Olshey most likely played a part throughout Portland’s search process.

The Blazers have made the playoffs in eight straight seasons, but have been eliminated in the first round four out of the last five, including this season.

Chauncey Billups played 17 seasons in the NBA before spending time as an NBA analyst with ESPN and Clippers games before joining Ty Lue’s staff with the Clippers. He’s a five-time NBA All-Star and the MVP of the 2004 NBA Finals with the Detroit Pistons.

The post Chauncey Billups Officially Becomes Portland Trail Blazers Coach appeared first on SLAM.

According to Shams Charania, the Dallas Mavericks have agreements in place to hire Jason Kidd as head coach and Nico Harrison as general manager and president of basketball operations.

This will be Jason Kidd’s third time as head coach of an NBA franchise. Kidd coached the Brooklyn Net for one season in 2013-14 and the Milwaukee Bucks for four seasons from 2014-18, holding a career record of 183-190. Kidd has served as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers for the past two seasons.

Nico Harrison will come to Dallas after serving as Nike’s vice president of basketball operations, a role he has had since 2015.

Both of these jobs became vacant after the former head coach Rick Carlisle and general manager Donnie Nelson left their positions following the Mavs’ first-round playoff exit to the Los Angeles Clippers.

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ESPN Sources with @_Andrew_Lopez: After one season, Stan Van Gundy is out as the New Orleans Pelicans coach.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 16, 2021

Executive VP of Basketball Operations David Griffin and Van Gundy have reportedly been engaged in talks about the future of both parties for weeks.

Despite a reputation as a defensive specialist, the Pelicans failed to mimic the defensive success of Van Gundy’s past teams, finishing the season ranked 23rd in defensive rating (113.3) and 25th in opponent 3-point percentage (38.0).

After being named the seventh head coach in franchise history in Oct. 2020, Van Gundy led a promising Pelicans team to a 31-41 record and failed to make the playoffs, despite a play-in tournament that gave four additional teams the chance to extend their season into the summer. That being said, injuries to Lonzo Ball, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Josh Hart and Zion also did their part to derail the team’s postseason hopes.

The revolving door of coaches over the last few seasons also means massive change for Williamson, a perennial All-Star, as New Orleans’ new coaching hire will be his third coach in as many seasons.

While Van Gundy moves away from the organization, the Pelicans have opened the door on a historic opportunity for assistant coach, Teresea Weatherspoon, one of the top candidates to replace Van Gundy (per Marc Stein of the New York Times).

The organization is also expected to reexamine the list of candidates they had less than a year ago, including assistants Jacque Vaughn, Ime Udoka (Brooklyn Nets), Charles Lee (Milwaukee Bucks) and Jason Kidd (Los Angeles Lakers), per Wojnarowski.

The post Pelicans, Stan Van Gundy Mutually Agree to Part Ways appeared first on SLAM.

While franchise cornerstone Damian Lillard initially mentioned Jason Kidd as someone he’d like to play for, Kidd pulled his name out of consideration for the position. 

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Blazers have a new list of top candidates for the head job in Portland. Clippers assistant Chauncey Billups, Spurs assistant Becky Hammon, Univ. of South Carolina/USA women’s coach Dawn Staley, Nets assistant Mike D’Antoni and Spurs executive Brent Barry are expected to be among those who receive the most interest from the Blazers’ front office to fill the role. 

Charania would go on to report that Hammon, who this season became the first woman to serve as head coach in an NBA game, will also be interviewing for the Orlando Magic vacant head coaching job as well. 

According to Jabari Young of CNBC, Damian Lillard is expected to wait to see what the Blazers do this off-season before deciding his future with the team. In 2019, Lillard and the Blazers agreed to a four-year, $196 million supermax contract extension. While he will likely play a huge role in choosing Portland’s next coach, the Blazers need to keep Lillard happy. 

The post Becky Hammon, Chauncey Billups Among Top Candidates in Trail Blazers Coaching Search appeared first on SLAM.

In response to Lillard’s vote of confidence, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Kidd would withdraw his name from consideration for the job. Kidd had nothing but great things to say about the Blazers, but it’s not the job for him.

“Portland’s a first-class organization and will have great candidates for its head coaching job, but I’ve decided not to be one of them. Whoever they choose will have big shoes to fill from Terry [Stotts].”

According to Jabari Young of CNBC, Lillard is expected to wait to see what the Blazers do this off-season before deciding his future with the team. In 2019, Lillard and the Blazers agreed to a four-year, $196 million supermax contract extension. If Lillard ultimately ends up on another team next season, it will have to be through a trade.

The Trail Blazers recently fell to the Denver Nuggets in their opening playoff series, as Lillard looked like one of the best players in the league but didn’t always get the help he deserved from his teammates. 

The post The Latest From the Trail Blazers Coaching Search and Damian Lillard’s Future appeared first on SLAM.

After a fourth first-round playoff exit in five seasons, the Portland Trail Blazers and coach Terry Stotts mutually agreed to part ways on Friday, sources told ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 5, 2021

The mutual separation should not be much of a surprise. There were numerous reports that Stotts would be fired if the team did not make a deep playoff run. A bad slump in April with a record of 5-10 was the beginning of the end along with the lack of playoff success.

Blazers’ executive Neil Olshey weighed in on the final decision via ESPN.

“I have the utmost respect for Terry and what he has accomplished these past nine seasons,” president of basketball operations Neil Olshey said in a statement. “This was a difficult decision on both a personal and professional level but it’s in the best interest of the franchise to move in another direction.

“Terry will always hold a special place in the Trail Blazer family and the Portland community. We relied on the integrity, professionalism and consistency he brought to the job every day and we wish he and Jan nothing but the best.”

Stotts finished as the second-winningest coach in franchise history behind the late Dr. Jack Ramsey with a record of 402-318. He has eight consecutive playoff appearances which currently stands as the longest streak in the League.

Yahoo! Sports, insider Chris Haynes reports that Damian Lillard will be consulted on the immediate coaching search and Jason Kidd is his preference.

“Jason Kidd is the guy I want,” Lillard told Yahoo Sports on Friday night.

Source: Damian Lillard to have major input on the next head coach. Stotts was the only coach he’s played for in his nine seasons in the league. After the way the season ended, it was time for a change. https://t.co/opzDtX7LP3

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 5, 2021

Early candidates include Chauncey Billups, Jeff Van Gundy, Mike D’Antoni and Juwan Howard.

The post Terry Stotts’ Portland Trail Blazers Coaching Tenure Comes to An End appeared first on SLAM.

The scary realization many fans and players around the League are coming to is just how in sync the three offensive juggernauts are, each recognizing when they need to assert their play style more, or less.

Propelled by James Harden’s 34 point triple-double, the Nets advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals after defeating the Celtics 123-109 last night.

Harden, continuing to cement is irreplaceable value on an already stacked team, kept the offensive motor of the team humming all night by dishing out 10 assists.

In all, The Beard averaged 27.8 points 10.6 assists and 7.2 rebounds while shooting 47.5% from beyond the arc in his first playoff series with the Nets.

.@JHarden13 saw daylight and knew he had to THROW. DOWN.

@MaimonidesMC Play of the Game pic.twitter.com/jIjyEJvvmo

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) June 2, 2021

After last night’s victory, Harden now ranks fourth (3) in all-time most 30 point triple-double in the playoffs behind LeBron James (15), Oscar Roberson (8) and Russell Westbrook (6).

Harden also continues to blast open the Brooklyn Nets record books in his first season with the franchise, joining Hall of Fame point guard Jason Kidd as the only players in franchise history to record a triple-double in the playoffs.

The Beard capped off the night by tossing an all-red version of his Adidas Harden Vol. 5’s up to a young lucky Nets fan.

my favorite pair, from me to you kid… go be great! pic.twitter.com/LEACQfi7PG

— James Harden (@JHarden13) June 2, 2021

Brooklyn will continue to rack up reps with their Big Three when they face the Milwaukee Bucks next Tuesday.

The post James Harden, Nets Take Out Celtics in Game 5 appeared first on SLAM.

Stevens joined the Celtics eight years ago after a successful stint as the head coach at Butler University. Throughout his tenure as the coach of the Celtics, Stevens has widely been considered one of the premier coaches in the league.

However, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Steven’s was “worn down” from coaching—especially following last season’s Bubble in Orlando—and “welcomed” a change of scenery into the front office.

In a statement released by the Celtics, Stevens appeared eager to take the reigns of the franchise.

“I’m grateful to ownership and to Danny for trusting me with this opportunity,” he said. “I’m excited to tackle this new role, starting with a wide-ranging and comprehensive search for our next head coach. I love the Celtics and know the great honor and responsibility that comes with this job. I will give it everything I have to help us be in position to consistently compete for championships.”

According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, the Celtics players were informed last night about Steven’s promotion. He also noted that current Los Angeles Lakers assistant and former Milwaukee Bucks head coach Jason Kidd and former Atlanta Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce are the two front runners for the Celtics now-vacant head-coaching gig.

Celtics fans will now have to eagerly await the news of who the team’s new head coach will be.

The post Brad Stevens Promoted to Celtics’ President of Basketball Operations appeared first on SLAM.

From the difficult to-reach rebounds, overly aggressive through the lane dunks and unbelievable buckets and dimes, when he gets on that court, EVERYBODY is food in his eyes.

He makes everything look effortless, throwing it down on anyone with authority.

Nothing gets past him and if he asks for a handshake, you BETTER give him one!

Westbrook, at 32-years-old, made history on Monday night by surpassing legendary point guard Oscar Robertson’s all-time triple-double record with the 182nd triple-double of his career.

It was just the feather in his cap to solidify his place next to Hall of Famers like Magic Johnson and Jason Kidd.

In fact, the feat has garnered so much praise for Westbrook that the Big O, Kidd and Magic have each congratulated the nine-time All-Star on breaking a record that had stood tall for 47 years.

The 2017 NBA MVP finished the game with 28 points, to go along with 21 assist and 13 rebounds, while also putting the Wizards on his back with Bradley Beal (averaging 31.4 minutes per game) out due to a hamstring injury.

Although Westbrook reached a momentous milestone in his NBA career, the Wizards haven’t been having the best of luck in the unprecedented 2020-21 NBA season. With Mondays loss against the Hawks (124-125), the Wizards are now in 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings at 32-37.

Still in the running for the inaugural play-in tournament, it’s known throughout the league that Washington will go as far as a recovering Beal and Westbrook will take them.

“I’m very confident in who I am. I’m very confident in things I do for this game.”

The post 182—Russell Westbrook Now NBA’s All-Time Triple-Double Record Holder appeared first on SLAM.

And, while young stars like Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton deserve their flowers for their performances this season, the Suns rise out West starts and ends with their captain: 15-year NBA veteran Chris Paul.

Paul, who was traded to Phoenix last November with the Oklahoma City Thunder looking to rebuild, has been one of the league’s most polarizing figures. Often criticized for his ball-domineering ways and tenuous relationships with the stars on his teams, Paul is — and has always been — one of the league’s most intelligent players.

An extension of the coach when he’s on the floor, Paul’s pitbull-like demeanor in combination with his understanding of the game allows him to be the type of floor general that’s become rare in the modern NBA. Where most guards’ biggest threat today is their ability to score, Paul is a throwback that reminds of us point guards like Steve Nash, Jason Kidd and John Stockton.

That may be a long-winded way to explain what Paul brings to every team he plays for but it’s useful in understanding why the Suns, with 10 players holding no more than five seasons of experience, needed Paul.

Why they needed their second high-level facilitator of the Booker Era.

While alleviating Booker from a substantial portion of his playmaking responsibilities, Paul has become an excellent pick-and-roll partner with Ayton, thanks to the threat of his 3-pointer and floater. In fact, with Paul’s basketball IQ, passing ability and improved spacing, even players like Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson are finding it easier to score around the rim.

The identification and simplification of everyone’s roles, quite simply, has allowed everyone to play to their strengths without overthinking.

Averages of 16.2 points, 8.8 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game (on a true shooting percentage of .594) may not jump off of the page when assessing MVP candidates. Especially when compared with the volume scoring of players like Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid or New York Knicks power forward Julius Randle.

Further, when assessing the roles of each player on their respective team, Jokic’s playmaking for the Nuggets is as essential as Paul’s is for the Suns.

Still, there’s something to be said for a team that’s at the top of the Western Conference standings when they were the 10th seed just a season ago. When they hadn’t won more than 25 games in any season of the Booker Era before 2019-20.

Certainly, the improvement of their defense has been particularly important, and Paul’s ability to generate turnovers has always been a key part of his game. However, the steal numbers for Rubio and Paul were identical from their time with the Suns and though Paul has a better defensive rating (107.9 compared to 108.4), the difference is negligible.

That said, this is where the defensive-minded wings and forwards that Phoenix possesses have been important.

Johnson, now in his second season, has improved his defensive rating from 108.3 to 105.9 with increased familiarity and play recognition. Craig, who Phoenix signed in the offseason, has held opponents to .444 percent shooting from the field and .353 percent from 3-point range.

Moving Dario Saric to the second unit, in favor of third-year forward Mikal Bridges, has been what’s the biggest boost for Phoenix’s defense. With a bench role and less defensive responsibility, his defensive rating has improved the most, going from a 112.0 in 2019-20 to 102.6 in 2020-21.

In a nutshell, Paul’s biggest contribution to the Suns isn’t to their defense. Nonetheless, while he’s helped enhance their offense, it’s difficult to say he’s the most essential piece of it. Especially as Booker perhaps, who averages 25.6 points per game, brings the Suns’ offensive rating all the way up to 120.2 when he’s on the court (versus 111.3 when he’s off the court).

Paul’s biggest contribution is intangible: it’s his leadership, his ability to get his troops focused and his ability to make the game easier for his teammates.

“He watches so much basketball,” Bridges says of Paul on The Ringer’s ‘Real Ones’ podcast. “He tells you so much about the opponent… he kind of mentally gets you locked in before the game even starts, before we even know our opponent yet.”

CP3’s key to unlocking Phoenix’s potential is, quite simply, being the player he’s always been.

Is that deserving of an MVP award this season? Likely not.

However, entertaining the conversation creates a deeper appreciation for the future Hall of Famer and what he’s meant to one of the league’s most adored franchises.

Per Sports Illustrated’s Michael Shapiro:

“Chris’s mindset is just different. It rubs off on all of us,” Johnson says. “He’s always a couple of steps ahead of the game, he’s always teaching. … He’s pulling us aside, telling us things to pick up, when to roll, when to pop, where to rotate. He really seems to see everything out there.”

The post Chris Paul’s Case for Laying Claim to 2021 NBA MVP Award appeared first on SLAM.

After passing Hall of Fame forward Scottie Pippen for sixth-place on the NBA’s career steals list on Monday, the all-time great point guard passed up another Hall of Famer, point guard Maurice Cheeks, for fifth-place on the NBA’s career leaderboard in a 106-86 win over the Miami Heat.

Paul had three steals in the game which included two in the fourth quarter that put him at 2,311 for his career. Cheeks, who was fifth at the time had 2,310 in 15 NBA seasons.

Paul is now pursuing Gary ‘The Glove,’ Payton for fourth place (2,445 steals); NBA legend Michael Jordan, who’s in third-place (2,514); former floor general Jason Kidd (2,684); and the NBA steals record holder, John Stockton (3,265).

This milestone comes weeks after Paul became the sixth player in NBA history to total 10,000 career assists against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Chris Paul becomes the 6th player in NBA history with 10,000 CAREER ASSISTS! pic.twitter.com/pavbc9t6OY

— NBA (@NBA) March 22, 2021

CP3 shares this honor with Stockton, Kidd, two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash, 1988 Rookie of the Year, Mark Jackson, and five-time champion Magic Johnson.

Paul is still going strong in his 16th season, quelling suspicions that he’s lost his status as an upper echelon playmaker the last two seasons.

While he recently played in his 11th All-Star Game (with his second-consecutive appearance) last month, and has averages of 15.8 points, 8.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game, his ability to turn the Suns into a championship contender is perhaps his greatest feat yet.

The post Chris Paul Passes Maurice Cheeks for 5th on All-Time Steals List appeared first on SLAM.

Shortly after the recent trade deadline, Mavericks General Manager Donnie Nelson addressed the media on the state of the team. When asked about the progression of Doncic, he reminisced on the first time he had the chance to see him play.

“When I saw Luka play for the first time, I’m like, ‘man, that’s a 6’7” Steve Nash that can shoot it and this and that and the other thing, but he rebounds like Jason Kidd.’”

As good as Doncic is, this is about the highest of praise you can give a young point guard. When you think about someone having the the ability to score and pass like Steve Nash while rebounding like Jason Kidd while also standing at 6-foot-7, it makes sense why Doncic might have the brightest future of any young player in the NBA. Both Nash and Kidd played for the Mavericks and were among the best point guards in the history of the league and are in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

As the clear leader of this young Mavericks team, Doncic is still just 22-years-old and playing as well as anyone in the NBA. Through 40 games this season, he’s averaged 28.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 8.1 assists per contest while shooting .368 from beyond the arc. As Nelson alluded to, the sky is the limit for the young guard.

The post Mavericks GM Donnie Nelson Compares Luka Doncic to Jason Kidd and Steve Nash appeared first on SLAM.

After last year’s 8-0 run in the bubble, the Suns knew they had the potential to become a playoff team. Looking back, the team’s roster was young and it appeared as though head coach Monty Williams and general manager James Jones knew they needed to add a veteran presence to the locker room.

Then came along Chris Paul in a trade. Paul had a promising performance in the bubble last season with Oklahoma City and, despite the team falling short to Houston in seven games, had let everyone know that he still had some gas left in the tank.

While there was much speculation around Paul’s age and his ability to compete, he has silenced the haters this season and has stepped up as a leader on the Suns.

The 35-year old has been deep in his bag this season and is currently eighth in the league in assists (8.8) while averaging 15.9 points per game.

On Sunday’s matchup against the Lakers, Paul’s alley-oop lob to Deandre Ayton marked his 10,000th assist—he’s now ranked sixth all-time in assists behind legends John Stockton, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Mark Jackson, and Magic Johnson.

10K career assist
DOMINAYTON@CP3 @DeandreAyton pic.twitter.com/4u9nU8q5vY

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) March 22, 2021

“It’s a testament to what type of teammate he is with the ‘we score’ mentality instead of ‘me score’ mentality,” said teammate and All-Star guard Devin Booker, according to Duane Rankin at AZ Central. “All the nicknames he gets, he fully deserves. Point God. Everything.”  

Alongside Booker, the Suns have been able to find success so far and they’ve maintained a 26-12 record. Currently second in the Western Conference, they’ll have to keep up the pace if they want to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2010.

The Point God says he’s not done dishing out dimes just yet.

“It’s a blessing, first and foremost, to play this long,” Paul said. “That’s something I don’t take for granted. A lot of guys I came in with are now coaching or unable to play now and I just thank God for this opportunity, man. I love this game. I love to play and compete and I’m grateful.” 

“I ain’t done. I’m going to keep hoopin’.”

The post Chris Paul Reaches 10,000 Assists, Now Ranked Sixth All-Time appeared first on SLAM.

Due to the Knicks’ newfound success, they’re regaining their status as an attractive destination for players and at a perfect time too.

With the trade deadline (Mar. 25), less than a week away, New York is trying to resolve their point guard conundrum and find a lead playmaker.

While many have reported that Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier and Houston Rockets guard Victor Oladipo are high on the Knicks’ wish list, the nature of trade season often presents multiple options for teams looking to revamp their roster and that continues to be the case this season.

According to the New York Post’s Marc Berman, New Orleans Pelicans point guard Lonzo Ball is one such option, as the eldest Ball brother would not only end their search for a playmaking guard but has a mutual interest in joining the Knicks:

The Post has learned the Knicks, with plenty of cap room, would be heavily on Ball’s radar as a restricted free agent.

It’s no surprise Ball would consider the Knicks an attractive destination. His father, LaVar Ball, wanted the Knicks to find a way to draft his point-guard son, LaMelo, the favorite for Rookie of the Year who also wound up in a smallish market with Charlotte.

Ball is having a career season with the Pelicans in 2020-21, averaging 14.2 points, 5.6 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. He’s improved his shooting to career-bests, hitting .385 percent of his three-pointers and holding a .562 true shooting percentage.

Currently on the final season of his rookie contract, Ball and the Pelicans failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension prior to the start of teh 2020-21 season.

As a result, he’ll be a restricted free agent this offseason.

The post Lonzo Ball, Knicks Have Mutual Interest in Trade appeared first on SLAM.

According to Omari Sankofa of the Detroit Free Press, Dwane Casey says that as of now, Killian Hayes is the the starting point guard for the Pistons. Casey would also go on to compare Hayes to Jason Kidd, which goes to show just how much potential that Hayes has as an NBA player.

“I’m not saying he’s Jason Kidd, but he’s got that point guard size. Big, strong sturdy body … he’s an old-school type point guard.”

The Pistons will open up the 2020-21 season against the Timberwolves on December 23. Killian Hayes will make his NBA debut against the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Anthony Edwards.

The post Killian Hayes Currently Set to Start at Point Guard appeared first on SLAM.

When LeBron James elected to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers in July 2018, he and the team, led by then-president of basketball operations Magic Johnson, decided that the best way to move forward would be by surrounding him with fellow ballhandlers.

Not only would relieving James of some of his playmaking duties help him remain spry for the entirety of the season, but it would also transform him into a lethal off-ball weapon. At least that was the plan.

So the Lakers signed Rajon Rondo and Lance Stephenson. They played James alongside Lonzo Ball, the point guard they had drafted second overall the year before. 

The plan backfired. The Lakers won just 37 games and became the first James-led team to miss the playoffs since the 2005 Cleveland Cavaliers. Head coach Luke Walton was let go. Johnson resigned.

And so last off-season, the Lakers took a different approach. It helped that they were able to finally reel in Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans, and that to acquire him they had to part with Ball. But the team’s brain trust, led by general manager Rob Pelinka and new head coach Frank Vogel, also recognized that they’d be best served adding to James’ playmaking responsibilities, not limiting them. They signed shooters like Avery Bradley and Danny Green.

Despite the presence of Davis, they added two more springy centers in Dwight Howard and JaVale McGee.

“A quarterback’s got to have wide receivers,” is how Vogel explained it earlier this year. “With our bigs at the basket and the shooting support that he’s got around him, [the roster] really fits his skill set.”

GRAB YOUR COPY OF LEBRON VOL 2

The result was a team that finished the regular season with the Western Conference’s best record—and then stormed through the playoffs en route to a title. The 2020 Lakers will be remembered for many things: Being crowned champions of the longest and most turbulent season in League history, ending a Lakers championship drought, providing James with his fourth ring and Davis with his first. 

But they should also be remembered as being the first team to fully lean into playing James at point guard, his true offensive position. In doing so, this season has helped the 35-year-old James secure one more crown: that of greatest point guard of all time. Think of him as the true Point God.

“He makes the game easy for everybody around him,” Green said. “He is a great facilitator. He will find you on time, on target. When he finds you, he usually wants you to shoot it right there and then because you are probably wide open.”

Trying to classify James’ position has always been a tricky proposition. He was viewed as a small forward coming out of high school, because of his 6-9 frame, and has often referred to that position as his “natural” one. Other times he’s scoffed at the idea of being beholden to any sort of position labels. “He’d always say, I’m a ballplayer,” Norris Cole, who played point guard alongside James with on the Miami Heat, said.

He’s also rarely guarded opposing point guards, and, as former Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy put it, “Offensively, positions don’t matter. As a coach you’re thinking about defensive matchups.”

Still, you’d be hard-pressed to find a team without a designated point guard—even in today’s mostly positionless NBA. Shooting guards and forwards might now all be “wings,” and centers may be going extinct, but most teams still charge specific players with running their attacks. The role remains unique. And it’s one James has always held.

“He was a point guard with us from Day One,” said Mike Brown, who took over as the Cavaliers’ head coach in 2005, James’ third season in the NBA, and coached him for five years. “He brought the ball up, he initiated the offense, he did everything.”

According to Brown, James never officially being announced as the team’s point guard was never intentional; a staffer—often a member of the public relations team—was usually the one who submitted the official starting lineups.

“I guess they just assumed the shortest player was our point guard,” Brown said. “But that was never the case. Those guys”—he mentions former Cavalier Mo Williams—“were all shooting guards.”

This season that changed. Not only was James often the lone ballhandler on the floor, but the Lakers became the first team to begin listing him at that position, a switch James embraced.

“He was more fully a point guard than on any team he’s ever played for,” said Channing Frye, a former teammate of James’ and current Turner Sports analyst. 

In response, James tweaked his game just a bit. But while most aging superstars with his size and skills migrate toward the hoop once they hit the twilight of their careers, James took a different approach, drifting toward the perimeter, and embracing his point guard skill set instead.

He had the ball in his hands more than ever before, according to the NBA’s tracking data. Thanks to that, he was able to lead the League in assists per game for the first time in his 17-year career and move up to eighth on the all-time list.

If he continues at his current pace for another two seasons he’ll soar past Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, Mark Jackson and Steve Nash, leaving him behind only John Stockton, Jason Kidd and, depending on how the next few seasons play out, Chris Paul. James is also now second all-time in playoff assists, trailing only Magic, the player most historians consider to be the greatest point guard ever.

But should James have that belt? These are the sort of inconsequential but also nerdy conversations that can make sports fun. So, let’s do some legacy math.

If you agree with Brown that James was always a point guard, and if you, like most people, consider James one of the two best players of all time, then that title should, indeed, belong to him. The counter would be that James spent three seasons in Cleveland alongside another All-Star point guard in Kyrie Irving, and four in Miami sharing the point guard duties with players like Mario Chalmers. There’s also the fact that this was his first season ever leading the League in assists, while players like Johnson and Robertson did so multiple times.

The counter to that counter would be James’ assist numbers, and how you have to scroll all the way down to No. 31 on the all-time list before you’ll find a non-point guard (Kobe Bryant). In other words: James approaches the game in a fashion similar to the players we consider point guards. He, like Johnson and Kidd and Nash, is a facilitator. And anyway, if shoot-first players like Stephen Curry can be labeled point guards then why can’t James? As former Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson said earlier this season, “I don’t know what’s going to be on his Hall of Fame plaque, but it should say point guard.”

And, maybe under that: greatest to ever play the position.

—

GRAB YOUR COPY OF LEBRON VOL 2

Yaron Weitzman is a freelance writer and author of Tanking to the Top. Follow him on Twitter @YaronWeitzman.

Photos via Getty

The post LeBron James Might Be The Best Point Guard Ever appeared first on SLAM.

Antetokounmpo has played just 33.0 minutes per game in seven playoff games, a modest sum for a superstar of his caliber by any means, let alone during a series over which they have quickly lost control.

One need not look far to find fair criticisms of how Antetokounmpo has been handled.

Head coach Mike Budenholzer (the 2018-19 NBA Coach of the Year don’t forget) doesn’t seem bothered by the idea that his 25-year-old superstar is on the sidelines for more than 25% of each critical matchup.

No, I think we, obviously, it’s 48 minutes. You gotta be good for the last 12. If anything, I think keeping us fresh and ready to go and compete and all those things,” Budenholzer told ESPN’s Eric Woodyard. “[…] It’s a high level. If you’re going as hard as these guys are in a playoff game, 35-36 [minutes], I think that’s pushing the ceiling.

Antetokounmpo recorded 21 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists in the 35 minutes of action he saw Friday night and that’s after tweaking his right ankle in the first quarter.

Both Antetokounmpo and Budenholzer said that the ankle had no impact on the forward’s usage on Friday, which is believable considering this is just the latest example in a long trend.

It’s hard to question a coach with Budenholzer’s track record but as the team prepares to face elimination on Sunday, the question ought to be asked.

Antetokounmpo played over 40.0 minutes per game during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 postseasons, with Jason Kidd and Joe Prunty on the sidelines. They lost in the first round in both of those seasons.

Related: Jimmy Butler on Giannis Antetokounmpo not guarding him

The post Coach Bud: 35-36 Minutes ‘Pushing the Ceiling’ appeared first on SLAM.

That doesn’t mean that there aren’t still coaches who’ve racked up lengthy tenures at the helm of a single organization. Below we’ve tracked each team’s coaching gig, marking the year that each coach took the reins.

For the purposes of our head coaching list, we’ve excluded interim coaches that were in their position for less than a season, this includes coaches like Mike Miller and Jacque Vaughn, who took over for the Knicks and Nets respectively in 2019-20 but were never locked in for anything beyond that.

List of NBA Head Coaches

Head Coaching Vacancies

• Knicks (filled by Tom Thibodeau) – The Knicks promoted Mike Miller from within to coach the team on an interim basis after the firing of David Fizdale early in the 2019-20 campaign but did not commit to bringing him back.
• Nets (filled by Steve Nash) – While the team has temporarily employed Jacque Vaughn on an interim basis, they’ve been looking for an official head coach since Kenny Atkinson was fired in the middle of the 2019-20 season.
• Bulls (filled by Billy Donovan) – At the conclusion of the 2019-20 regular season, the Bulls parted ways with Jim Boylen.
• Pelicans (filled by Stan Van Gundy) – At the conclusion of the 2019-20 regular season, the Pels dismissed Alvin Gentry.
• Sixers (filled by Doc Rivers) – At the conclusion of their first-round series loss, the Sixers fired Brett Brown.
• Pacers (filled by Nate Bjorkgren) – At the conclusion of their first-round series loss, the Pacers dismissed Nate McMillan.
• Thunder (filled by Mark Daigneault) – At the conclusion of their first-round series loss, the Thunder parted ways with Billy Donovan.
• Rockets (filled by Stephen Silas) – At the conclusion of their second-round series loss, the Rockets revealed that Mike D’Antoni would not be extended.
• Clippers (filled by Ty Lue) – At the conclusion of their second-round series loss, the Clippers moved on from Doc Rivers.

Notable NBA Coaching Free Agents

Did I miss a candidate reportedly linked to a job opening? Find me on Twitter @AustinKent

The post List of NBA Head Coaching Vacancies, Candidates appeared first on SLAM.

According to Marc Stein of the New York Times, Ty Lue and Jason Kidd are among the prime candidates to fill the vacancy. Lue is currently an assistant coach with the Clippers while Kidd serves as an assistant with the Lakers.

Pelicans executive vice president David Griffin of basketball operations was the general manager of the Cavaliers when Lue won a title back in 2016. He also spent nearly 20 years in several roles with the Suns, overlapping with Kidd’s stint a perennial All-Star point guard there.

Gentry had been a stabilizing force on the Pelicans, who underwent a substantial transition last offseason when Anthony Davis was traded.

Gentry’s Pelicans teams made the postseason just once but that successful 2017-18 playoff run ended in the second round. That was the season that DeMarcus Cousins tore his Achilles, robbing the Pels of half of their superstar Cousins-Davis pairing.

Prior to coaching the Pelicans, Gentry had won a title as an associate coach with the 2014-15 Golden State Warriors. He’s been on the sidelines of an NBA team since 1989-90.

The Pelicans will look to hire a new coach at the same time as the Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets, creating an intriguing sense of competition in the market.

The post Pelicans Dismiss Head Coach Alvin Gentry appeared first on SLAM.

But going into that night, GMs and coaches had already determined that there were a half-dozen can’t-miss players. Allen Iverson, Marcus Camby, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Stephon Marbury, Ray Allen and Antoine Walker were the “Super Six of ’96,” the dudes that were locks to be selected first. And that’s how it played out.

Another half-dozen teams would make their picks, all missing out on a chance to draft the man who would immortalize the #8 and the #24.

So cheers to the Dirty Dozen and Unlucky #13 for making the mistake of a generation.

In honor of UNDEFEATED’s new Kobe 5 pack, we’re running down every player selected before Kobe and every franchise that got it wrong by not taking him.

1.     Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers

Italy was isolation. For most of his time over there, Kobe was alone, obsessing over basketball, dreaming and imagining the places that the game could take him. Then when he and his family got back to the States, they settled in Philadelphia. Lower Merion High School was the new headquarters for young Kobe to finally show the work he had put in during all those years.

It was like a comic book superhero had made his grand entrance.

Boom!

Pow!

Wham!

It wasn’t a bird or a plane—it was Kobe flying over every high school kid that dared to guard him. #33 was an unstoppable force, an immovable object that just wanted to see every school in Philly burn.

But the Sixers weren’t watching the story unfold. They selected Allen Iverson with the first pick in the ’96 draft.

Iverson and Bryant would have their battles. They’d each win and they’d each lose. Sometimes Kobe was the villain and sometimes he was the hero.

Until 2001, when Iverson earned League MVP and carried an offensively-challenged squad to the Finals. The roles were clear. Iverson was The Answer, the person that the entire country was rooting for. Kobe was the one standing in his way.

But there was no happy ending, no way the sun would shine on Iverson and Philly. Kobe made sure of that.

He sent his hometown team back home by doing everything on the floor and reminding them in between hounding defense, marvelous shotmaking and an evil competitiveness that their local kid wasn’t a kid anymore.

“It was always a war,” Iverson said in 2016. “You knew you had to come with your best. He brought everything out of me. He’s a fighter. With all the criticism that came his way throughout the years, he was able to overcome it all. That’s how he’s built. He loves proving people wrong.”

You hear that, Philly?

2. Marcus Camby, Toronto Raptors

Defense, rebounding and leadership were the qualities that made Marcus Camby a sure thing coming out of the University of Massachusetts. He was forever steady on the backline, plus he brought athleticism to the offensive end, as well as a very famous shooting form that was actually good money for the entirety of his 17 years in the League. 

But damn, did Kobe love playing against him. They played against each other 37 times and Camby came up on the wrong side of those matchups 24 times. Bean was out there giving him a light dose of 25 points every time they linked up. Then there were the times he gave Camby and his teams the gold-member level scoring treatment. Those were all-inclusive experiences that saw 51 points and 42 points (twice) get put on the Nuggets. 

And that career average of 25 points per game against Camby got upped to 33 a night when they met in the 2008 playoffs. Bean put that Nuggets team out of their misery swiftly. In the four-game sweep he put up 32 points, then 49 points, then a calm 22 and ended them with an efficient 31.

The defense that Camby got drafted for wasn’t ever enough vs #8 or #24. 

But back to the Raptors real, real quick. 

January 22, 2006. 

81 reasons to regret passing on him in ’96. 

3. Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Vancouver Grizzlies

The shots seemed to cascade down from the rafters when Kobe found the zone. It used to look like they were falling and descending from basketball heaven, like Kobe was above the floor, higher than the defense—hooping from the sky. He would raise up and no matter what the defense did, the shots would splash through the net. And it would happen relentlessly, until the final buzzer mercifully sounded. 

It wasn’t just that there were a lot of shots. It’s that, truthfully, they were often bad shots against good defense that somehow always went in. 

Ask Shareef Abdur-Rahim about January 19, 2006. 

The third pick in the ‘96 draft had moved on from Vancouver to Sacramento by that point. His Kings team caught up with Kobe just three nights before he hit 81. He was already in the zone. 

Kobe racked up 51 points, getting the step on every single member of the Sac-Town defense. He did his damage from wherever he wanted to on the floor but most of his buckets came in the midrange, taking bad shots that became good shots because they went in. Clinically speaking, it was a first-class education in midrange footwork out of the triple-threat. Prof. Bryant was nice enough to give the Kings a free course. 

The Lakers lost in overtime that night. But a decade into their careers, Bryant showed Adbur-Rahim what the zone truly looked like. 

4. Stephon Marbury, Milwaukee Bucks

Stephon Marbury deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. That’s how nasty he was. From Lincoln High School in Coney Island to Georgia Tech in Atlanta to the NBA to China, the only thing that ever changed was the jersey. The rest stayed the same. The hunger he played with, the fight he showed, the brilliance he brought to the hardwood, it all deserves to be rewarded with a spot in Springfield. 

That’s why the fourth pick’s words about Kobe, from a 2007 interview, carry so much weight. This isn’t Steph speaking about the finished product, the man with five chips and two Olympic Golds and over 30,000 career points. This is the single-minded, uncompromising, still-searching-for-the-next-rings Kobe. So listen up. Because real ballplayers know real ballplayers. 

“The way he goes at basketball and his preparation and dedication is something that’s unique. Kids think that he’s Kobe Bryant, he’s just as good as he is because of him just knowing how to play. They don’t know before the product touches the store, there’s a lot of things that has to go into that. People, when they look at him play, it’s like, ‘Oh, I could do that.’ Nah, you can’t do that. He’s the only person on this Earth that can do what he’s doing on a basketball court. He defends and plays offense. Who does that? He guards, he defends, he stops people. And then do that on the offensive end? Seeing him that night is like, ‘Damn, I can’t score and he about to bust my ass.’ That’s a hard pill to swallow.”

5. Ray Allen, Minnesota Timberwolves 

Enter the mind of a predatory animal on the hunt for food. Picture the hours that go by stalking and waiting for the right moment to make the right move to execute the right strike. Imagine all the time that is spent trying to survive and advance, all the skills sharpened by those experiences. 

But there’s something else out there in the wild. Another predator that’s just as big, just as cunning and even more cold-blooded. 

No matter what you do, that animal is marking you as its prey, just like you’ve marked others as your own prey. 

You know this. You know it’s coming. You know it wants blood. 

Ray Allen knew that Kobe had him marked. He learned about that when they met while traveling together to the Rookie Combine in Chicago. Kobe had Allen in his sights, studying him during his career at UConn, clocking the footwork and the instantly-squared-to-the-rim shoulders that Ray used on his jumpshot. Allen even knew how Kobe always felt disrespected about getting selected well after he did in the draft. 

They had their fights in between Los Angeles, Milwaukee and Seattle. All those scraps were meant to lead up to the battles in 2008 and 2010. 

When two alphas meet, it becomes a war of the mind. The bodyblows will land, but the spirit will stand. 

Allen won in ’08, catapulting three-pointer after three-pointer, setting what was then a Finals record for most threes. 

Kobe didn’t stop, though. 

He came back in ’10 and he got revenge for the draft, for all the times that Allen outscored him and beat him, for both the Bucks and Timberwolves thinking that Allen was a better player. 

The hunt was done. 

6. Antoine Walker, Boston Celtics

The Celtics were ready to draft Kobe. ML Carr, who was the director of basketball operations and the coach in 1996, and Red Auerbach, who needs no introduction, had him come to Boston for a workout before the big night on June 26, 1996. It’s no surprise that he bodied the workout. His shot was flowing and his interview was an early indication of the basketball genius he would morph into. 

They wanted to select him with the sixth pick. They saw all of it. They could see his skill level and his intellect and they could see his willingness to learn from older players and teach younger ones. They saw it from the drills that Hall of Famer Dennis Johnson put him through and they saw it from all the tapes they watched of him destroying high schoolers. 

But they didn’t take him. 

Their fear outweighed their interest. 

The Celtics were a bad team in 1996, far from all their glory of the previous three decades. They wanted to pick up a prospect that was pro-ready, somebody they could trust to adjust to the League.

They went with Antoine Walker, who ended up having a good career, averaging over 20 points per game during his time with the Cs. 

Carr and Johnson and Auerbach made the wrong decision, though. 

Bean came back and burned them in 2010 when he led the Lakers to the chip. 

They could’ve had him join the history that includes Russell, Bird and the countless other Hall of Famers that have worn the green. But they got scared. 

7. Lorenzen Wright, Los Angeles Clippers

Lorenzen Wright was tragically murdered in 2010 after a 13-year NBA career in which he averaged 8 points and 6 rebounds per game. 

He and Kobe matched up a handful of times in the League, and like everybody else, he didn’t have the answer. Kobe dropped 45 on his teams a couple of times, as well as multiple games of 25-plus. 

Out of respect for Lorenzen, let’s stick to the franchise that had spent decades in the basement—the Clippers. 

Bill Fitch, the Hall of Famer, was their coach and Elgin Baylor, the Hall of Famer, was their general manager. Even with all that brainpower and basketball history in between them, they didn’t pick up on Kobe’s potential. All they had to do was watch him play.

Here’s what Kobe did to the Clippers in 69 career matchups: 

22.4 points per game

5.1 rebounds per game

4.6 assists per game

1.6 steals per game

47-22 record

He kept the Clippers down, repeatedly making them look like the little brothers. Their “home” games belonged to him. There were more of his jerseys at Clippers home games than there were hot dogs, popcorns and sodas. He was the guest that never left, the neighbor who served as the ultimate reminder of the biggest miss that Baylor and Fitch ever had. 

8. Kerry Kittles, New Jersey Nets

It played out like a soap opera. The New Jersey Nets had made it known; they were ready to draft Kobe. John Calipari had just been named coach and general manager of the Nets and he didn’t hide any of his interest in the youngster. He had multiple private workouts in front of Calipari and his staff, with all of them playing out the same way—he was busting up every full-time Net they brought in to guard him. 

The love was immediate. Calipari and the front office recognized the greatness they were watching and they wanted to capture it in the draft and then set it free on the court.  

That love, unfortunately, wasn’t mutual. 

Bryant didn’t want to play in New Jersey and his agent, Arn Tellem, was going to make sure it didn’t happen. Drama followed from the moment that information became known. Tellem was threatening the Nets, saying that if they picked him, he’d ghost and go back to Italy. Arrivederci, idioti. Just like Calipari, Tellem knew what time it was. This was a special, special talent. 

Rumors flew for weeks. He said this and then he said that. But wait, then they said something else.

Oh, the storylines! Oh, the narratives! Oh, the lies! Oh, the truths?

The only people that know whether or not Kobe would’ve actually gone to the Boot aren’t giving up the informazione. Maybe he wouldn’t have. Maybe his dynasty would’ve been in East Rutherford, New Jersey, rather than in Los Angeles, California. Maybe he and Jason Kidd would have gotten to link up. 

Tellem’s plan worked. Calipari went with Kerry Kittles, a talented shooting guard out of Villanova. He had a nice eight-year career, calmly and efficiently averaging 14 points a game.  

The ghost came back to torment New Jersey in 2002. Swiftly, with no sympathy, Kob and the Show swept Kittles and the Nets in the Finals. It wasn’t even close. He was still #8, reigning down on those helpless defenders with towering poster dunks and the flashiest windmills. 

The love that never was hurts the deepest. 

9. Samaki Walker, Dallas Mavericks

Samaki Walker wound up on the Lakers for their 2002 championship season against the Nets. His head-to-head with Kobe isn’t on the same level (22.5 ppg vs 5.9 ppg) so let’s rewind to December 20, 2005 to show the Dallas Mavericks a souvenir they received for passing on Kobe in favor of Walker. 

It was a 75-degree day in Los Angeles. “Run It!” by Chris Brown was blasting on the radio every other moment. Kids were flocking to movie theaters to catch Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. “Gold Digger” was still getting airtime and so was “Disco Inferno.”

Kobe was scorching the League then too. From November 2 to December 19, he was out there getting 30 and 40-balls with consistency. Tearing people up with so much ferocity that it was no way he couldn’t be considered the best ballplayer on the planet. 

Three-pointers, midrange, dunks, lays were dropping with such such style and grace that double-teams and triple-teams couldn’t stop him. This was Prime Kobe. 

The Mavericks were in town and they were good that season, carrying an 18-6 record in the matchup. 

They weren’t good enough, though. 

Kobe scored 62 points in three quarters. He played 32 minutes, took 31 shots and outscored the visitors by himself. They wrapped up the third with a total of 61 points. 

It was all island-work. Nobody else around, just Kobe, the triple-threat position and pain. The water was too deep for any Maverick that came to Kobe Island. None of them could swim safely. He sunk ‘em all and then called it a night, allowing them to only lose by 22.  

Samaki Walker was long gone by then. Kobe wasn’t. 

Nobody was talking about those movies or songs on December 21. They were just talking about Kobe. 

10. Erick Dampier, Indiana Pacers

The knock on Kobe coming out of high school was about strength, both mentally and physically. The doubters all sang in unison; Is he strong enough to guard Michael and Reggie and Payton and Mitch and all the other PGs and SGs that will take him to the block? Then the chorus of those songs went like; Can he handle an 82-game season? He’s never played that many games before.

When he hardcore-failed against Utah in the 1997 playoffs, with those four straight airballs, that song of doubt rocked the nation. 

We told you, we told you.  

The Pacers didn’t want any part of the high school kid during the draft. They had their own shooting guard. He was the best three-pointer shooter ever at that point, an ironclad lock for the Hall of Fame. They were an old-school organization with a roster full of veterans. Didn’t matter how much talent the kid had, they weren’t about to draft somebody that had just gone to prom. 

So they went with Erick Dampier, a rock solid center that played three seasons at Mississippi State. 

And then they watched Kobe shoot the Lakers out of the 1997 playoffs. 

And then against the Pacers in Game 4 of the 2000 Finals, after Shaquille O’Neal fouled out, they watched Kobe shoot the Lakers into a huge road win. 

There were just over two minutes remaining in overtime. Kobe shook the shit outta Reggie Miller near the left side of the circle. A left-to-right cross that he threw between his legs sent Miller wobbling backwards. One bucket. A stare-down pull-up over Mark Jackson followed about 30 seconds later. Two buckets. Then when Brian Shaw went streaking from left to right down the lane and missed an awkward hook shot, Kobe sprang up off the floor and tipped in the miss with his right hand. Three buckets. Gametime. 

They weren’t singing that song of doubt anymore. It would be just a couple of games after that Kobe would win his first NBA championship. 

11. Todd Fuller, Golden State Warriors

To be real, it didn’t work out for Todd Fuller in the NBA. Things happen that way sometimes. He was nice at NC State and then his NBA career only lasted five seasons. Most of those years were spent on the bench. He might’ve been lacking in basketball skill or maybe he wasn’t able to mentally comprehend and then physically adjust to the way ball is played in the League.

Kobe never let the Warriors forget being so close to getting him and choosing Todd damn Fuller instead. He went 51-16 against them in his 20 seasons. He gave them a 50-piece combo in 2000 and treated them to nine different 40-point performances and 17 other outings with at least 30 points. He had even had a game in their building where he dished out 14 assists. Yeah, that guy making that many passes.

He never had to see them in the postseason and he only ever played against Fuller a combined 12 times. Ain’t hard to tell how those games went.

12. Vitaly Potapenko, Cleveland Cavaliers

On the night that Kobe set the record for the most three-pointers made in a game (it’s since been broken by Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry), he connected from distance 12 times and had three huge dunks. His primary defender was Desmond Mason but the Seattle SuperSonics threw everybody at him. Kenny Anderson tried. Rashard Lewis did, too. Vladimir Radmanovic also contested a few shots.

Bean was firing in a few different ways. Shaq got double-teamed a couple of times and hit him for some off-the-catch shots. He had some fall after he set up his own dribbles. He, of course, shot a bunch of them out of the triple-threat.

It was 2003, though. Dudes weren’t shooting three-pointers at will yet. The game still operated inside-out. Shaq got his post touches and Kobe ran the offense from the wing. So launching 18 missiles was exceptionally rare, even for the best guard in the League.

Because the crowd wasn’t used to that type of volume shooting, they were hanging on every attempt, sonically following the trajectory of every shot.

Their collective voice would rise in pitch each time he put one up and then it would crash down in unison when they dropped.

He had ten of them already in the books with 2:33 left in the third. He was on the right wing, Mason standing in front of him. He took a beat to stay there, without dribbling, holding the pumpkin in his right hand. Mason took a huge swipe at the ball, leading Kobe to rip through a right-to-left screen. He took one left-handed dribble and hopped into a shot off two feet, met with a right-handed contest from one of the Sonics’ big men.

With his follow-through up for an extra moment, Kobe laced a triple in the eye of Vitaly Potapenko, the man selected right before him in the 1996 Draft.

Life comes at you fast, Vitaly. There’s your defining moment in NBA history.

13. Charlotte Hornets

They had him. They really, really, really had him. They could’ve had Kobe Bryant playing for the team that Michael Jordan would one day own. That could’ve been real life.

Jerry West, who was running the purple and gold in ‘96, had a plan to make sure that the Hornets’ draft pick would become the Lakers’ rookie.

“Kobe Bryant, through his agent, they were trying to direct him here to us,” West said shortly after Kobe passed. “So Kobe wanted to come back again and workout for us. So Arn called me and said, ‘He’s in town, he wants to workout.’ I brought Michael Cooper in, one of the great defenders we’ve had in our League. Well, after 10 minutes, I said, ‘Stop this.’ He was embarrassing Michael.”

West didn’t stop working until he orchestrated a trade that sent Vlade Divac to Charlotte. It became official on July 11 of that year.

Then the Logo used that cap space to sign the Diesel, which in turn established the best guard/big tandem to ever play basketball.

For their part, the Hornets got Divac and some playoff appearances in the years that followed. And they also get to go down in history as unlucky #13, the last team that lost out on Kobe Bean Bryant.

—

Max Resetar is an Associate Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

Photos via Getty.

The post The Biggest Miss Ever: The Teams That Passed On Drafting Kobe Bryant appeared first on SLAM.

Thibodeau will join the franchise and have full autonomy over his coaching staff, Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News reports. He’ll focus on player development, which is a refreshing priority for an organization that has hastily sought competitive teams without undergoing a genuine rebuild.

Thibodeau’s style helped the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves take their own young rosters to new heights but concerns about how hard Thibodeau rode players were not overstated.

Thibodeau told the media, including Sports Illustrated’s Howard Megdal, that he’s come to view minute restrictions differently than he did in the past. That willingness to innovate could be the difference maker for Knicks fans with hopes tied to young stars Mitchell Robinson, R.J. Barrett and whomever they draft in the 2020 NBA Draft lottery.

Provided Thibodeau’s focus on player development bears real fruit, the Knicks could have an essential building block in place for future success. Thibodeau’s ability to churn out playoff teams is not in question, it’s simply a matter of whether he can do so in a way that’s sustainable for the franchise.

Thibodeau was New York’s frontrunner for the coaching position for over a month before he was hired but concerns over his contract held up the deal. We wrote last week how the Knicks had begun to consider Jason Kidd for the position as well.

The post Knicks Hire Tom Thibodeau as Head Coach appeared first on SLAM.

Kidd, of course, served as the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks between 2014 and 2018 and has a strong relationship with 2021 free agent Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Given New York’s famous desire to go all in in the pursuit of big name free agents, the choice would make sense.

“He’s a big part of my success in the league,” Antetokounmpo told the Associated Press following Kidd’s dismissal from the Bucks in 2018. “I’m loyal to the people I work with. I love him as a person. I care about him as a person.“

Despite the potential recruiting benefits, Kidd isn’t regarded as the team’s top coaching choice across the board, however, and for that reason the team would likely be intent on choosing his assistant coaching staff.

Popular choices to join Kidd at the request of the Knicks are Rod Strickland, Kenny Payne and Mike Woodson, all of whom have ties to recently appointed Knicks executive William Wesley.

We wrote about how the Knicks would interview the current Los Angeles Lakers assistant last month. At that time, former Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau was regarded as the frontrunner for the position.

According to Bondy, the Knicks are unwilling to meet Thibodeau’s contract demands.

While Kidd’s Hall of Fame playing days unfolded largely in Dallas, Phoenix and New Jersey, he did finish his career with the Knicks franchise.

The post Jason Kidd Emerges as Frontrunner in Knicks’ Coaching Search appeared first on SLAM.

Kidd joins a lengthy list of candidates for the job, with Tom Thibodeau reportedly the current front runner.

Kidd has some familiarity with New York. He finished his playing career with the Knicks and quickly was hired to coach the Nets following his retirement.

The post Knicks To Interview Jason Kidd For Head Coaching Job appeared first on SLAM.

In this SLAM series, veteran/retired players share some of the best, funniest and most unforgettable stories from their careers.

READ: Storytime with Monta Ellis

READ: Storytime with Quentin Richardson

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Born and raised in Chicago, IL, Tim Hardaway followed in the footsteps of great guards like Isiah Thomas and Maurice Cheeks and paved the way for guys like Derrick Rose and Dwyane Wade. Hardaway’s game was one of the most entertaining the League has ever seen. With his explosive quickness and flashy handles, Tim broke a lot of ankles during his career.

After four years at the University of Texas at El Paso, where his killer crossover was nicknamed the “UTEP Two-Step,” Hardaway was drafted by the Golden State Warriors with the 14th overall pick in 1989. Along with teammates Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin, he formed “Run TMC,” the fast-paced, electrifying trio that had The Bay rocking. Hardaway made three consecutive All-Star teams from 1991-93 and two more as a member of the Miami Heat in 1997 and 1998. Over 13 years in the NBA, he averaged 17.7 points, 8.2 assists and 1.6 steals.

We caught up with Hardaway to talk about some of the greatest memories from his incredible basketball journey:

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SLAM: Describe your greatest or proudest moment ever on a basketball court.

TH: Man, I have so many fond memories from grammar school, high school, college and the NBA. But I’m going to pick one and it was on the biggest stage of them all. We were on national TV. Game 7 against the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Alonzo [Mourning] went out with four fouls, so he had to sit down. There was a timeout and nothing was said. Nothing was said. I’ve never seen [coach] Pat Riley—this was my first time seeing Pat Riley in a really, really serious atmosphere. Game 7. This was my first encounter with him in that particular environment. I saw that there was a hush and a blank on his face. I’m looking down. When my teammates saw [Pat’s] face, I’m looking at them like, Oh wow, everybody’s following his lead. Me, I’m thinking in my mind, Shit, I’ve been in this predicament many times in grammar school, high school, college, in playgrounds, pick-up games. I’ve been in this type of environment before. I was like, OK, now I can do what I want to do. This is my comfort zone. So I went out there, did what I needed to do, made shot after shot after shot and we were playing good defense. That was my comfort zone. I was back in my element, where I needed to be. I think that’s one of the biggest games and experiences I had in my lifetime. We went to the Eastern Conference Finals and lost to the Bulls, but we went there. And I played in front of my home city and my friends, family. It was just a lot of fun.

SLAM: Was Pat just speechless in that moment or was his silence intentional? What was your read on it?

TH: It was a TV timeout with, like, six minutes left to go in the third quarter. I really thought he was speechless, didn’t know which way he wanted to go, how he wanted to go, who he’d go to. I think that he always felt that because him and Zo had this kind of bond, now it was like: Who else am I going to go to? He didn’t understand, Zo was hurt most of that year. Isaac Austin always stepped up, PJ Brown always stepped up, Jamal Mashburn. We had people that’d come off the bench like Ed Pinckney, Mark Strickland. People just stepped up off the bench in Zo’s absence, so we never missed a beat. I think that he was searching, searching, searching and once the timeout was ending, there was nothing to be said. I was just like, Come on guys, let’s go. I got it. We’re gonna win this game. Don’t worry about it. I got it.

SLAM: What’s the best prank in the NBA that you ever witnessed?

TH: Best prank in the NBA was on me [laughs]. My first year. It was a preseason game. Golden State Warriors against the Utah Jazz at my alma mater, UTEP. This is my rookie year. I’m hype. I know what I need to do out there on the court, but I’m just ready to play. They said, Alright, Tim, lead us out of the tunnel. I ran out and before I knew it, I was already on the court and they were still in the locker room [laughs]. The Utah Jazz started laughing at me. The PA announcer said, Alright, it’s your Tim Hardaway Warriors. He helped me out a little bit. I stood up with my hands up like, Yeah, I’m back and I appreciate being back. And the crowd gave me a standing ovation. But it was embarrassing at first. I ran out there by myself and was like, Ain’t this a bleep. Until the PA announcer said that, I was really about to put my head down. I didn’t know what to do until he said that and then I was alright. That’s the biggest prank I’ve ever seen but I was in it so…

SLAM: Who was the funniest teammate you ever had?

TH: That’s a no-brainer. Tom Tolbert is the funniest teammate I ever had. He always looked at Seinfeld. He was a Chevy Chase guy. He always had jokes for you, one-liners for you. He always kept the team up. When the team was down, he always had a way to keep the team up and say something to help the team out, to get us loose.

SLAM: What’s an example of something he would say?

TH: [Coach] Don Nelson would say, You know, this is some bullshit, so and so or this and that or whatever. And Tom Tolbert would be like, OK, well since that’s over with, I might as well just go ahead and have a beer or I guess I’ll go to Las Vegas tonight and get drunk and gamble and I’ll see y’all in the morning at shoot-around. He’d just say something off-the-wall.

SLAM: Who’s the most competitive guy you ever played with?

TH: Are intense and competitive the same thing? If so, I’ll say Alonzo Mourning. By far Alonzo Mourning. Intense. Never wanted to lose. If he missed a jump hook in shoot-around or practice, he’d be like, Give me that ball back, give me that ball back. He had to make that jump hook the same way before Coach Pat [Riley] could talk. It was amazing. That’s how competitive he was. He wanted everything to be right. When he was out there, he wanted everything to be 100 percent right. He didn’t want any mistakes. Alright, let’s do it again, let’s do it again. I got to get it. Let’s do it again. Until he gets it right about two or three times and then he’s alright with it. He was very competitive on our team.

SLAM: Of all your ridiculous crossovers, which one is your favorite?

TH: Oh my god. There are a lot of them, man. I crossed a lot of folks over. Some of the things I did, I don’t even remember them. People tell me that I did this or that and I’m like, I don’t even know, I’m just out here hooping. I’ll say this and it’s just a tribute to him. I always wanted to go against my idol Isiah Thomas. I always wanted to play against him in a meaningful game. When I crossed him over in a game, I mean crossed him over, that felt really, really good. He went for it, he bit on it and I crossed over and I was all by myself and laid it up. I think we were in Oakland. I always wanted to play against him and always wanted to do my best in front of him, so probably that one.

SLAM: Describe the moment where you screamed “IN YO FACE!” at Charles Barkley.

TH: You know what happened? It was a preseason game at Cal. We had a rivalry with the Phoenix Suns. We always had great battles with them. It just started in the preseason. We were all healthy. Both teams were talking a lot of smack. I mean a lot of smack. Even before the game, people were getting into it. We were talking to them, they were talking to us. It was just a lot of shit-talking, basically. I just so happened to come down the lane at that particular time and I went up forcefully. Even though it was a preseason game, we wanted to show them that this year, We’re coming for y’all. It’s going to be different this year. We’re coming for y’all. I just went to the hole and laid it up on him, and-one. And I just wanted him to know that, “Hey, IN YO FACE!” And there’s going to be a lot more of that this season, too. That’s where that came from.

SLAM: Is that an expression you used often?

TH: That just came out of nowhere. Normally, I’d just be like, “And-one!” Or something like that. But when I said “in your face,” I just wanted to tell him that we’re coming for y’all this year.

SLAM: What’s your best Run TMC story?

TH: Let me see. The best Run TMC story I have—we were in the playoffs against San Antonio. And Coach Nelson got on Mitch and myself in a film session. He’s just like, Are y’all going to play some fucking defense? Y’all just let Rod Strickland and Willie Anderson or whoever just come in the game and kick our ass. You two got to play some defense. We’re not even gonna talk about offense, we know that your offense is gonna come. But defense, man. Y’all got to take some pride in defense.

So we started that day and we played 3-on-3 full court for about an hour and a half while Nellie and Gregg Popovich and the rest of the coaches were up in the concourse walking around and talking. We were down there playing and he came down and said, Hey, what are y’all doing? Y’all know we play tomorrow, right? He said, Let’s play a game of HORSE. We’re just going to use one ball. We shot the ball and he took it and was like, Alright, y’all leave. Y’all go.

But he got on Mitch and I and then that next game, Mitch, Chris Mullin and myself, we really took it to them. That was one of our best moments. We felt that we could beat anybody, anytime, anywhere. Right then and there, in a pressure situation where we needed the game, I think we graduated ourselves to that next level.

SLAM: Who’s the toughest guard you ever had to defend?

TH: I always say these two guys. They never get the recognition that they’re supposed to get. Never. I’m talking about Kevin Johnson and Rod Strickland. A lot of people don’t talk about those two guys but, man, they gave me some headaches on the court. I mean, some headaches. They played just like me. Rod didn’t have a jumpshot but when he was on, he’d make a couple here and there. And any time he went to the rim, it was a possible three-point play. Any time. That’s how much stuff he had. I loved playing against them. They rose my game up to a different level. I have to say those two. Kevin Johnson and Rod Strickland. They don’t get enough just due for what they were out there doing on the basketball court.

SLAM: Why do you think they’re so underrated?

TH: There were so many of us [guards]. You’re talking about Gary Payton, Jason Kidd, John Stockton was still there, myself, Terrell Brandon, Mark Price, Mookie Blaylock, Terry Porter. You had a lot of guys. Then you had new guys coming in like Steph Marbury, Kenny Anderson and those guys. There were a lot of people. We were always at the top but they were right there below us. A lot of people don’t talk about them but Rod Strickland and Kevin Johnson… oh my god.

—

Alex Squadron is an Associate Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter @asquad510.

Photos via Getty.

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In this SLAM series, veteran/retired players share some of the best, funniest and most unforgettable stories from their careers.

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Throughout an incredible basketball journey, guard Monta Ellis has broken records, put on legendary performances for historic teams, been a consistently unstoppable scorer, shared the court and gone head-to-head with future Hall of Famers and much, much more.

Ellis starred for the “We Believe” Warriors and reached the playoffs with every NBA franchise he suited up for (Golden State, Milwaukee, Dallas, Indiana). Over his 12 seasons in the League, he averaged 17.8 points, 4.6 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.7 steals. Monta dropped 40+ on nine different occasions, including a 48-point game against the Thunder in 2007—the same year he won the Most Improved Player award.

Here, Ellis tells the memorable stories from his career:

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SLAM: Describe your greatest or proudest moment on a basketball court.

Monta Ellis: That’s tough because I have a couple. I know, for one, my biggest thing was breaking the record when I was in high school to become the No. 1 scorer in JPS (Jackson Public Schools) and then I became No. 2 all time [in the state of Mississippi]. But I would have to say, man, my first game-winner in the NBA against the New Jersey Nets. The game was tight. I forgot who shot that ball in the corner, I think it was Vince Carter, and we ended up getting the rebound. Baron got the rebound and we thought Don Nelson was going to call a timeout, but he didn’t. So Baron pushed the ball and I ran the wing and it was, like, a three-on-two. But he was more to the left side and J-Kidd had to [make the stop], so he had to play between me and Baron. He decided to stop Baron and Baron kicked me the ball, and I ended up shooting it and hitting the game-winner. That was the year that I won Most Improved. I would have to say that one right there.

SLAM: Is that a surreal experience? Growing up, I’m sure you acted out scenarios like that in the driveway. When it finally happens, does it live up to that hype? 

ME: Yeah, man. I had done it numerous times even in high school. But it’s different when you do it in front of 18-20,000 people. I was in the Bay Area. When I say those were the best fans I’ve ever been a part of, those were the best fans I’ve ever been a part of. For me to hit that shot in that building in front of those fans, it was crazy. That time went crazy. From then on, they embraced me. That was my moment right there.

SLAM: What’s your best “We Believe” Warriors story?

ME: The one that people really don’t talk about is, that year [2007], [head coach] Don Nelson even came out in the paper and wrote us off. He said we weren’t going to make the playoffs, and we might as well start getting ready for next year and seeing what we could get in the Draft and whatnot. We had a lot of veteran guys on the team, and me being a young guy and hungry, we took that to heart. We all came together as a team then. I think we ended up winning 18 of the last 22 or something like that to end up getting into the playoffs as the 8-seed. With that run that we made, it was crazy.

We didn’t like that [Don said that]. So we all came together as a team and we just went out there and played. Off the court, you weren’t going to see one without seeing the other 12 or 13 guys. We go to dinner. Whatever we did, we were always together. It carried over to the basketball court. When we were on the basketball court, no matter if the times got tough or anything, we were always able to stay together. We had heated moments. We had heated situations. But nobody ever got personal with it. Nobody ever took it to heart. Everybody was like, Alright, we’re just trying to get better. We saw that. We saw everybody getting better. We saw the team getting better. So we just stuck with it.

SLAM: Can you talk about that ensuing first-round series against Dallas, when you guys pulled off the upset?

ME: The thing was with that series, Don Nelson and Mark Cuban had a personal thing going on at the time. Don Nelson coached his ass off that game. He told us exactly what was going to happen. He told us every move that Dirk was going to make. He told us everything that Jason Terry was going to do. Everything. When we knew we had them was when we first came to Game 1 and they switched their lineup to try to match up with us. We knew we had them then. From there on, we just ran the table.

SLAM: Who was the funniest teammate you ever had?

ME: Baron Davis, by far. I’ll tell you this, when it comes to BD, don’t ever bet him to do anything. Don’t ever dare him to do anything. Don’t ever crank up an idea where you even think that it might cross his mind because he’ll do it [laughs].

SLAM: Is there one thing you remember specifically that someone dared him to do?

ME: One day, we had a [nationally televised] game. We were on a run and everybody was talking about us or whatever. He knew the camera was going to be on. They had him put this outfit on—a cowboy outfit—with the cowboy hat, the boots, the belt, everything. They bet him to do it. Like, I bet you won’t do this. They fixed the outfit up. It was crazy. I don’t know when in the world anybody would’ve worn it. BD wore it. 

SLAM: Who told him to wear it?

ME: Al [Harrington], Jack [Stephen Jackson], Matt [Barnes] and J-Rich. 

SLAM: How did people react to it? 

ME: We didn’t do nothing but laugh. We were like, Man, he’s crazy. It was one of those outfits. Like, man, ain’t nobody supposed to come out of the house like that. He did that for a televised game.

SLAM: What’s the best prank in the NBA you ever saw?

ME: When I came in, they just did the norm, like put popcorn in your car. One day, they got Ike Diogu. We got drafted the same time. I think J-Rich asked him to do something and he didn’t do it, so he came out of practice and they had taken his rims off his truck, and they put his car on top of his rims. He came outside and he just had his car on top of his rims [laughs]. Those are the only pranks I ever saw. I ain’t never seen anything beyond that. I’ve seen more of the popcorn than anything.

SLAM: What’s the most unique pregame ritual you ever saw in the League?

ME: Now young guys do a lot of crazy stuff. When I came around, the only person that we said that had a crazy ritual was Ray Allen. He used to run miles and then he’d come out 3-4 hours before [the game]. And then Kobe, too. But other than that, on my team, I ain’t never had a teammate do any crazy ritual.

SLAM: Did you have a specific ritual? 

ME: Nah, I mean, because sometimes I’d go out and warm up, sometimes I wouldn’t. And then we had an extra gym, a practice facility, when I was in Dallas—I never went on the court then. I worked out in the back and then just went out and played.

SLAM: Stephen Curry has talked about an encouraging call he got from you when he was struggling during his second year in the League. What do you remember about that?

ME: I know what you’re talking about. I had just got traded to Milwaukee. The fans were upset. Then they had this Chris Mullin night, where they retired the jersey or whatever, and they booed the owner. I think that kind of got to him because everybody was talking about me more than anything. A lot of people were saying they would’ve taken me over him. Being young, sometimes that’ll get to you. And I understood it. So I just called him and told him, Don’t worry about all of that, man. Just keep working hard. You’re in a great situation, it’s your team. There are going to be critics. You’re going to have people that are going to say what they’re going to want to say. Once you turn it around, I guarantee they are all going to be on your bandwagon. I just told him to keep working hard, man, and play basketball how he knows and stop overthinking it. Just play. As players, you get in that mode sometimes. I get that. 

SLAM: Who would you say is the toughest player you ever faced one-on-one, either in a game or in practice?

ME: I used to have some good one-on-ones in practice with BD and all of those guys. In a game, it was Kobe. Oh my goodness. He hit crazy tough shots. He was always on the attack. He was in kill mode. If he ever laid back, don’t ever get comfortable with it. It’s like, he’s just waiting his turn. If you say something crazy, if he feels any kind of excitement, he turns up. It was unbelievable to guard him.

SLAM: Was that kind of the rule—don’t talk to Kobe on the court because that’ll get him going?

ME: I mean, if you want to. You better be able to back it up.

SLAM: Do you remember any specific times you played against him? 

ME: Oh, man. 2011. Me and him were going back and forth. He had like 30 something. I had like 40 something or close to that. They ended up winning because he hit a clutch shot at the end. And he hit it on me. There were two or three, maybe four possessions where he came down and scored, I came down and scored, he came back down and scored, I came back down and scored. We were going back and forth like that, for like 4-5 minutes straight.

—

Alex Squadron is an Associate Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter @asquad510.

Photos via Getty.

The post STORYTIME: Monta Ellis Talks ‘We Believe’ Era, Playing vs Kobe + More appeared first on SLAM.

Rose, a former MVP, says he won’t be the last of his kind.

D-Rose is determined to ensure his legacy is that of a legend who created a “blueprint for the next guy.”

Per The Boston Globe:

“I take it as a challenge and I always say like Kobe [Bryant], he was the one that was able to adapt to every generation, and I’m trying to be that player,” Rose said. “He won championships. We’re not the same player at all, but, as far as the guy that’s in my lane, I feel like for what I went through, every time I step on the floor, I’m making history. Good game. Bad game. Whatever it is. I’m not going to be the last Derrick Rose — a player who went through multiple injuries, was at the top of his game, I’m not going to be the last one.”

Rose said he doesn’t want his son to pursue basketball. The life has been tough at times on the old man. But he won’t stop him. He just wants him to be more prepared for the harsh realities of professional sports.

“My son, I don’t want him to hoop, but he’s getting the itch for it right now. If he wants to hoop, then it’s cool to hoop, but I’m not going to be that dad where if he don’t see he’s talented like I was then we’re going to focus this energy in another direction. I’m going to be that dad. He’s not going to hold on to dreams that’s not like reachable.”

That’s Rose’s biggest hope, that all of this work, pain, disappointment, and sacrifice will result in something other than buckets in meaningless games.

“[Former teammate Drew Gooden said], ‘Man, you’re going to be like [Jason] Kidd, play 16 or 17 years. Because you’re changing the game and being effective,’ ” Rose said. “That meant a lot to me, just hearing him say that. I’m doing something right and just knowing I’ll never be the last one so I’ve got to create a blueprint for the next guy, like man you can get through it, you’ve just got to change your mentality and your perspective.”

Related Derrick Rose: ‘I Want to Be Able to Do What Kobe Did’

The post ‘I’m Not Going to Be the Last Derrick Rose’ appeared first on SLAM.

“I like being an entertainer,” says Doncic, who more or less single-handedly outplayed the hapless Golden State Warriors Wednesday night.

Carlisle has little doubt the NBA’s reigning Rookie of the Year is about anything other winning, and concedes that a special talent like Luka deserves a bit more freedom on the court.

Per ESPN:

“Guys like Doncic, [Larry] Bird, Jason Kidd, Magic Johnson — sometimes they get bored and they want to get into a creative state and do some things to kind of break up the monotony,” Carlisle said. “But the important thing is to understand that there’s a time and place for everything. The most important thing is not to compromise your opportunity to win. I give him the trust to figure those things out.”

Off the top of his head, Carlisle can tell you how many followers Doncic has on Instagram. It’s three million and counting. And it’s a concern for Carlisle.

“Social media has created really an undue pressure on guys like Luka to generate highlights,” Carlisle said. “[Fans] want to be seeing stuff every day on their phones.”

Even the threat of Doncic’s passing frequently leads to fun. His pass fakes have caused several defenders to look like fools, turning their heads or even their whole bodies as he either lays the ball in or dishes to another teammate.

“That’s what I do. I like to enjoy the game,” Doncic said. “I like to be an entertainer. Sometimes it’s good to be, sometimes it’s too much. I just like to enjoy playing basketball.”

Related Rick Carlisle: Luka Doncic ‘Having One of Those Magical Runs’

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James, 34, finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in the Lakers’ 112-107 win against the visiting OKC Thunder.

Anthony Davis scored a game-high 34 points for the Lakeshow, winners of five in a row and owners of the League’s best record at 12-2.

Per The AP:

“Coach (Frank) Vogel came in here and said, ‘Congratulations,’ and I thought he was joking about my seven turnovers,” James said. “I really don’t know what to think about it. I just think it’s a pretty cool stat to know, and I’m glad it happened in a win.”

James has five triple-doubles in the Lakers’ last 10 games, getting four in victories.

“Amazing,” Davis said. “To be able to do that against every team is something special. I mean, (it’s) trippy that he’s been playing for a long time, so it was a matter of time before it happened, but just a tribute to all his hard work.”

James is fifth in NBA history with 86 triple-doubles, but the four players in front of him — Oscar Robertson, Russell Westbrook, Lakers great Magic Johnson and Lakers assistant coach Jason Kidd — hadn’t done it against 30 teams. Kidd, who did it against 28 teams, has served as a role model for James’ efforts as a tall point guard.

“He’s just playing terrific basketball,” Vogel said. “For him to be doing what he’s doing in his 17th year is just nothing short of remarkable. There’s no reason to believe he can’t sustain that for the rest of the season and help us make a real strong playoff push.”

Related LeBron James to Anthony Davis: ‘I’ll Play the Second Guy’

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Head coach Rick Carlisle expects the two young stars to “take the reins” in Dallas.

Dallas will be heading into a season without future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki for the first time since 1997.

Per Mavs.com:

“It’s definitely going to have a different feel to it,” coach Rick Carlisle told Mavs.com on Wednesday. “That said, my understanding is the (American Airlines Center) court has a picture of (Nowitzki) on it, which is a great tribute.”

Carlisle spent the last 11 seasons coaching Nowitzki, and the native of Germany led the Mavs to their only NBA title in 2011. But Carlisle believes Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis are ready to take the baton from Nowitzki and run with it.

“I think that it’s really important to always remember (Nowitzki’s) massive contributions to this franchise, to a championship, and to the kind of integrity that he brought to the club, both as a player and as someone in the community,” Carlisle said. “It’s a big change without him.

“But Luka and KP have got to take the reins from Dirk and Jason Kidd and Jason Terry and that group of franchise players. I know they’re excited to take on that challenge.”

Related Luka Doncic: ‘We’ll Make the Playoffs. We Must’

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Since then, the priority has been to begin at the grassroots level. In 1997, Nike started inviting its endorsees to mainland China for promotional tours during the offseason to host camps in an effort to connect players to a region with a population of over 1 billion. The following year, Nike became the first brand to organize the High School Basketball League with close to 130 teams throughout Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

The initiative drew popular events and activations like the “Sunday Sunset,” a Nike and Jordan-branded 3v3 tournament organized for amateur players at the historic Dongdan Sports Center in Beijing. The country also introduced the RISE Academy, a free basketball program open to young hoopers that provides professional coaching for players looking to take their game to the next level.

“Basketball is a game that represents more than sports but street culture,” Angela Dong, Vice President and General Manager of Nike China, says. “I think that gives our youth an opportunity to follow their own dreams through the power of the sport, and also realize a freedom spirit through the court and communities.”

Dong remembers the early days of basketball in China and has been present throughout the last three decades to see the growth of hoops.

“It almost feels like something from a very humble start that transformed to what it is today,” she says. “[We are] one of the leading countries globally in terms of sports participation not only just at the pro or elite athlete level, but grassroots and communities as well as charities. … We want to touch everyone that has a body. Sports are no longer just for the elite.”

Five years ago, the Yao Foundation and Hope School Basketball Program joined together to provide playing opportunities for over 300,000 children in China’s most remote areas. The Nike Social Community Impact group also leads initiatives created to inspire the joy of play, particularly working with the Chinese Ministry of Education to equip coaches with the tools needed to instruct kids on the game’s fundamentals. 

With the 18^th edition of the World Cup set to take place in China for the first time ever, Nike and FIBA hosted local and international media for the official uniform and footwear unveiling at the Phoenix Center in Beijing last week.

Hall of Famers Scottie Pippen and Jason Kidd also made special guest appearances to talk about how hoops in China has expanded since they first visited the country in the early ‘90s.

“You’ve seen a lot of effort that’s been put into the game, whether it’s outdoor basketball courts or the impact that Nike has came out with to implement different programs,” Pippen, a six-time NBA champion, said. “To see the grassroots of the game, the NBA spending more time in China to educate them and align all these different players to do camps like Basketball Without Borders and things of that nature … to get people to grow the game and get excited about the game.”

“They are diehards and know your stats better than you know them,” Kidd added. “They love the game of basketball and you as a player … and that’s what makes them special. You’ve never seen anything like it.”

The World Cup, which is from Aug. 31 to Sept. 15, will be played throughout eight cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Dongguan, Foshan, Nanjing and Guangzhou) over 16 days. The feat marks another milestone for Nike as they continue to help grow the game and its audience globally.

The Chinese national team debuted its new on-court threads that will be worn as they begin their quest to win a gold model. Designed by Josh Iverson, Senior Graphic Designer for Nike Basketball, the jersey features a lightweight, breathable design of 100 percent recycled alpha yarn and a two-tone color scheme of crimson red and white to honor the country’s flag.

The color blocking draws inspiration from the Pareto Principle, an 80-20 concept developed by Italian philosopher Vilfredo Frederico Damaso Pareto in 1848, which signifies that 80 percent of an effect can be traced to 20 percent of the causes. Only China and the USA will don these jerseys during the tournament.

Nike also debuted its latest silhouette, the AlphaDunk, which features a Zoom Air unit that covers the forefoot, the largest ever on a basketball sneaker. Jordan Brand also unveiled four FIBA-inspired sneakers—the Jumpman Diamond, AJXXXIII SE, AJIV and AJXII—that are set to release in the coming weeks.

“China, in particular, is the tip of the spear when it comes to international growth for us,” Jordan Brand President Craig Williams says. “We’ve seen continued momentum and enthusiasm about the brand in just about every market that we’ve been in.”

Back in 2017, Jordan Brand signed Guo Ailun, who became the first Chinese Basketball Association player to join the Jumpman family. Ailun, a member of the Chinese national team and a fan favorite, is set to be the first international athlete to have his own Jordan signature sneaker.

“He has an insatiable appetite for wanting to be the best,” Williams says. “Those are hallmarks for the Jordan Brand that MJ started himself. We see that in this player that has been fantastic for the Chinese national team. I think those are attributes that continue to spark interest and curiosity with consumers here in China.”

The brand’s Wings program, an educational pipeline that aims to support access to academics and mentorship, has a strong base in the country, too. To date, Wings has reached over 1,500 youth in 18 provinces, including two primary schools in Beijing and Guangzhou. The scholarship program has covered full tuition fees for more than 1,000 HS students.

Later this year, Nike will introduce Mini Basketball, a concept to provide child-sized equipment and further physical education teacher training with a goal to fund 1,000 schools across China by 2022, and RISE Academy 2.0, an online platform built upon the RISE concept and principles.

“2019 is an important year for us and basketball in China,” Dong says. “We certainly believe that China has the potential to be one of the biggest markets for basketball globally.”

—

Drew Ruiz is an Associate Editor for SLAM. Follow him on Twitter at @DrewRuiz90. 

Photos via Getty.

The post Nike Continues to Grow Global Reach Through Hoops in China 🇨🇳 appeared first on SLAM.

Dinwiddie played a role in helping recruit Irving to BK as an unrestricted free agent this summer, and says Kyrie foreshadowed that “New York could be fun” this season.

The Nets plan to hand the keys of the offense their new All-Star point guard.

Per Nets Daily (via The Athletic):

“The first time he reached out was maybe like December in terms of just loosely talking about it,” [Dinwiddie] told [Shams] Charania. “He was obviously still super focused on his season and everything. But you could tell from his conversation that it was on his mind and obviously free agency was coming up and that’s kinda what it was. Just asking a friend about his current situation what he thought.”

Then, says Dinwiddie, Irving went deeper, telling him “New York might be fun next year,” repeating the line for emphasis, “New York might be fun next year.”

Asked when things changed from Knicks to Nets for the six-time All-Star, Dinwiddie seemed to say that the Nets, because of his childhood as a Jason Kidd fan, held much more sway than believed.

“Kyrie very much identifies as a New Jersey kid,” he told Charania. “This is not something fabricated for the purpose of the story. He was saying things like, ‘I’m really from New Jersey.’ With all these comments, [I thought] we got a shot. This isn’t like the Knicks or nothing.”

Related Bobby Portis: Players Knew Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving Were Going to Brooklyn

The post Spencer Dinwiddie Says Kyrie Irving Discussed Joining Nets in December appeared first on SLAM.

Also joining L.A.’s coaching staff is Jason Kidd, who Wojnarowski tweets agreed to his own deal with the team today. Kidd will serve as a prominent assistant, although there may be not be a specific “top assistant” distinction.

The length of the deal and the involvement of Kidd are key to the story as those are what apparently derailed the Lakers’ previous plans of bringing Tyronn Lue aboard to coach LeBron James.

We wrote at the time that Lue had been in favor of a five-year pact and wasn’t especially keen on L.A.’s desire to have Kidd so heavily involved.

Story: Lakers Move On From Tyronn Lue as Coaching Candidate

Vogel arrives in Los Angeles having most recently spent two years at the helm of the Orlando Magic. Vogel’s teams fell well short of the playoffs from 2016-18 but the franchise was very much embroiled in the midst of a rebuild.

The most significant chapter of Vogel’s portfolio is without a doubt his stint in Indiana. It was Vogel at the helm of the Pacers team that battled James’ Miami Heat for three consecutive seasons. The two conference finals losses during that run were the team’s best finishes but his overall winning percentage with the franchise was an admirable .580.

The post Frank Vogel, Lakers Agree To Coaching Deal appeared first on SLAM.

As ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski writes, Lue is stilled owed over $10 million from his Cavaliers buyout, so accepting a less-than-market value deal could potentially cost him money.

Update #2, May 8, 6:49 PM: The Lakers have decided to move on from Ty Lue and pursue other coaching candidates, Tania Ganguli of The Los Angeles Times tweets. They determined he wasn’t the right long-term fit.

Update #1, May 8, 5:50 PM: The Lakers and Ty Lue have reached an impasse without a deal in place, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN tweets.

Among the talking points that have come up in meetings between Lue and the franchise, Wojnarowski tweets, is the assistant coaching staff. The Lakers hope to involve Jason Kidd, who left a strong impression on the organization in his own coaching interview.

Initial Report, May 3, 2019: The Lakers are expected to move forward with Ty Lue as their new head coach but no formal offer has been made, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.

Lue’s name has been connected to the franchise since Luke Walton was dismissed last month. Lue, of course, already has a working relationship with Lakers forward LeBron James as the pair won the 2016 NBA championship together in Cleveland.

Lue spent two full seasons and two partial campaigns with the Cavs, exiting last October as the franchise settled into life in the post-LeBron era. He met with the Lakers several times over the course of the past few weeks.

Beyond his relationship with James, Lue has ties to the Lakers as a player. The point guard started his NBA career with Los Angeles, serving with the franchise from 1998 until 2001.

The post Lakers Move On From Ty Lue As Coaching Candidate appeared first on SLAM.

Team presidentMagic Johnson hasn’t made his displeasure with Walton secret, and LeBron James‘ camp has also reportedly pushed for a coaching change in Los Angeles.

Walton, 39, has one guaranteed year remaining on the contract he inked in 2016. In three season, his teams are 94-145.

Per The Athletic:

“I fully expect to be coaching this team again next year,” he told The Athletic on Tuesday night.

The intensity and specificity of the reports around a potential successor have invited speculation that the Lakers have informally started their search while Walton is still on the job — something Walton said he has not concerned himself with.

“I just view it as outside noise unless someone from within tells me that that happened,” Walton told The Athletic. “Unless someone from within our group is telling me that, I just view it like all the other things we’ve gone through as a team this year. Those are things that I don’t have the time to worry about. I’ve got more important things to do like getting the team better and doing my job.”

[Tyronn] Lue recently called Walton to assure him that the Lakers had not contacted him about a potential head coach opening, a source close to the situation said. The source said Lue told Walton that if he was contacted by someone in the organization he would let the Lakers coach know out of “courtesy and friendship.”

“There’s different rumors and everything else,” Walton said. “Unless some kind of information comes from someone within our organization, I don’t pay attention to it and I don’t concern myself with the rumors.”

Related Jason Kidd on Lakers Rumors: ‘You Can’t Turn That Down’

The post Luke Walton: ‘I Fully Expect to Be Coaching This Team Again Next Year’ appeared first on SLAM.

The Hall of Fame point guard says Doncic’s skill set is rarely (if ever) seen in a player his age.

“Think of a 6-7 Steve Nash,” Mavs owner Mark Cuban said after drafting the rookie last June.

Per The Dallas Morning News:

“Shew,” Nash said when asked about Doncic. “He’s phenomenal. Just an incredible basketball player. Skill. Ability. Size. Feel. He can do so many things on the basketball court and has such a skill-set that’s so great and versatile.”

Then Nash took his appraisal of 20-year-old Doncic a step further.

“He’s an incredibly unique player, historically, already, at a young age,” he said. “As far as his uniqueness and accuracy and ability to make plays off the dribble with his size? We just don’t see that. Especially at his age.”

Nash was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Sept. 7, along with another former Mavericks point guard, Jason Kidd, who in December told The News after his first live look at Doncic: “He’s way beyond being 19 years old [Doncic turned 20 in February), just his feels and his mannerisms, always in control. I think he really understands the game. He’s got a great basketball I.Q.”

Related Mark Cuban Wants Kristaps Porzingis and Luka Doncic ‘Together for the Next 20 Years’

The post Steve Nash: Luka Doncic an ‘Incredibly Unique Player, Historically’ appeared first on SLAM.

With Luke Walton expected to lose his job this summer, Kidd will reportedly be “among the serious candidates” for the gig.

The 46-year-old Hall of Famer wants to get back into coaching “at any level.”

Per ESPN:

“I think Cal is a great institution. We’ll see what happens,” Kidd said Monday on The Jump. “Right now, it’s nice to be wanted. And it just tells me I’m doing the right thing. And I think the year off helps clean up some things, too, just to refocus and have that energy.”

Kidd said he would be patient in the process and said he thought Walton had done an “incredible job” considering the Lakers’ injuries and other distractions.

“We’ll wait until the season’s over to see what opportunities come about,” he said, “and, hopefully, there’s one that fits.” Kidd described the Lakers franchise as one of the best in the world.

“Not just in the NBA, but the world,” he said. “And so if you ever have the opportunity to wear the purple and gold, you can’t turn that down. As a coach, as a player, because they’re all about championships, and so they have a process. They have a young team. And then LeBron (James) comes and kind of sped up things. And so he wants to win now. But I think, again, it takes time.”

The post Jason Kidd on Lakers Rumors: ‘You Can’t Turn That Down’ appeared first on SLAM.

The Black Mamba cautions that Simmons will otherwise live to regret it by the time his career ends.

Bryant adds that he’s amazed by the 22-year-old NBA All-Star’s ability to dominate games without being able to shoot.

Per news.com.au (via The Herald Sun):

“He’s got to get a jump shot,’’ Bryant said. “It sounds stupid and all that but I’m dead ass serious.

“Because if not, he will regret it when his career is over.’’

He said Simmons ability to dominate NBA games without a reliable jump shot is “astonishing” — and also predicts the Melbourne product still has a bright future ahead of him.

“I think his development will come in shooting obviously,” Bryant added. “At some point he’s got to be able to shoot that ball. Jason Kidd, when he came in the league, wasn’t a great shooter, but he worked to the point where he became one of the best three-point shooters we’ve had in our league in history.

“That will be his next progression. That being said, even without that, he’s been able to dominate and take that city of Philadelphia to a place where it hasn’t been in a very long time.”

Related Kobe Bryant: Ben Simmons Should Rebuild Jumper

The post Kobe Bryant Says Ben Simmons Has ‘Got to Get a Jump Shot’ appeared first on SLAM.

The Cavaliers rode a 66-point first half performance to deliver the Knicks a franchise-worst 17th straight loss.

Kadeem Allen scored a career-high 25 points on 10-for-16 shooting for New York. Collin Sexton led the Cavs with 20 points and Kevin Love put up 14 points and nine boards in just 16 minutes of work.

DeAndre Jordan’s reaction to Mario’s poster tho (via @BleacherReport) pic.twitter.com/70TsCXa3L5

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 12, 2019

Trail Blazers 111 (33-23), Thunder 120 (37-29)

Russell Westbrook (21 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists) and Paul George (47 points, 12 rebounds 10 assists) became the 10th pair of teammates to ever record triple-doubles as OKC cruised to the W.

With 68 combined points, the duo surpassed Vince Carter/Jason Kidd and Michael Jordan/Scottie Pippen for the highest scoring output between two teammates with triple-doubles — the previous record was 56. They were also the first duo to both score at least 20 points.

Westbrook’s 10th consecutive triple-double moved him past Wilt Chamberlain for the League record.

BIG PG ENERGY (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/KudXM4AlnY

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 12, 2019

Heat 87 (25-30), Nuggets 103 (38-18)

Nikola Jokic had 23 points and 12 rebounds and Malik Beasley added 20 as the Nuggets scored 35 first quarter points and never looked back.

Nets 125 (29-29), Raptors 127 (42-16)

Kawhi Leonard (30 points) knocked down the go-ahead shot with four seconds to go as the Raptors won their fifth game in a row. Marc Gasol had 16 points and six boards in 22 minutes in his first home game in Toronto.

Joe Harris and Allen Crabbe combined for 46 points and 13-for-18 shooting from deep.

who forgot to teach Marc Gasol the pregame intro routine? (via @TSN_Sports) pic.twitter.com/tc43wezOg9

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 12, 2019

30 PTS | Game-Winner#KawhiLeonard improves the @Raptors to 42-16 on the season! #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/fHbvjTKmsE

— NBA (@NBA) February 12, 2019

Bucks 112 (42-14), Bulls 99 (13-44)

Giannis Antetokounmpo stuffed the stat sheet with 29 points, 17 rebounds, eight dimes and three blocks as the Bucks held onto first place in the Eastern Conference. His plus-minus of plus-21 in 35 minutes was a team-best

Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen combined for 47 points, nearly half of Chicago’s points.

Mavericks 104 (26-30), Rockets (33-23)

James Harden knocked down a 30-foot 3 with 52 seconds to go to extend his 30-point streak to 30 games as he finished the night with 31 points, eight rebounds, seven dimes and five steals.

Luka Doncic led the Mavs with 21 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.

YO WHAT?!

LUKA’S HANDLE PACKAGE IS INSANE. (via @nbatv) pic.twitter.com/B4zjTEg9PT

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 12, 2019

“DON’T REACH YOUNGBLOOD.”

PJ Tucker just made Luka #TouchEarth. pic.twitter.com/0JTdiQCfaH

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 12, 2019

BANG.

James Harden nails the 30-footer to hit 31 and keep the streak alive. (via @nbatv) pic.twitter.com/W8pLBZtast

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 12, 2019

Clippers 120 (31-27), Timberwolves 130 (26-30)

The two sides were knotted up 53-53 late in the second quarter, but a 34-11 run by Minnesota put the game out of reach for Los Angeles, who were only able to cut the deficit back down to four in the final period.

Bench stars came up big for both sides as Derrick Rose scored 22 in 25 minutes for the Timberwolves and Lou Williams had 45 points on 13-for-25 shooting for the Clippers. Williams’ 45 was the most points by a bench player since JR Smith in 2009.

4.4 seconds.

Derrick Rose can, and will, always beat the clock. pic.twitter.com/7ZjvAVjeFc

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 12, 2019

Wizards 112 (24-33), Pistons 121 (26-29)

Blake Griffin (31 points, nine rebounds, nine assists) and Andre Drummond (32 points, 17 rebounds, four steals) took over as the Pistons raced out to a quick lead and held on the rest of the way.

Bradley Beal scored 32 for the Wizards.

Hornets 90 (27-29), Pacers 99 (38-19)

Kemba Walker scored 34 points, but the Hornets were only able to shoot 32.2 percent from the field and 17.5 percent from behind the arc as seven Pacers chipped in at least eight points. Myles Turner led Indiana with 18 points, three steals and three blocks.

The post Post Up: Russell Westbrook and Paul George Record Historic Triple-Doubles appeared first on SLAM.

George’s heroics led OKC past the Nets 114-112.

The Thunder overcame a 23-point deficit, earning their biggest comeback victory ever.

Story from Thunder-Nets, where Paul George detonated and exorcised some demons in the midst of the Thunder's greatest regular-season comeback ever: https://t.co/NppVp8Hhpt

— Erik Horne (@ErikHorneOK) December 6, 2018

Per the AP and Oklahoman:

“Yeah, it felt good,” George said. “I had the hot hand, I knew I had the hot hand. I just felt good all game.”

Russell Westbrook had his 108th career triple-double to snap a tie with former Nets star and coach Jason Kidd for third in NBA history, finishing with 21 points, 17 assists and 15 rebounds.

“I don’t care about what the stats (are),” George said when asked about his reputation for missing potential game-winning shots. “Shots go in, shots don’t. I don’t play for stats. That’s not how I play the game.

“Whatever the joke or meme, I’m doing what I love to do and I’m doing it at the highest level. I can’t say that for everybody that’s commenting or making a meme. Those guys aren’t happy with who they are. I’m happy with what I am, who I am as a person. I play this game because I love it.”

Related
Post Up: Paul George Drops 47 Points and Hits the GAME-WINNER

The post ‘I Knew I Had the Hot Hand’: Paul George Burns the Nets for 47 Points appeared first on SLAM.

Curry added that the Bucks’ coaching change this past summer could “unlock” their greatness, alluding to Steve Kerr taking over in The Bay for Mark Jackson.

Steph Curry on if the Bucks are a threat in the East pic.twitter.com/wUW76RitJN

— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) November 7, 2018

Giannis Antetokounmpo and company spanked the Warriors 134-111 Thursday night, and Curry left early due to a left adductor strain.

Per ESPN:

“I think [their situation] is very similar to four years ago here,” Curry explained. “A change of scenery sometimes helps. You get a little boost of energy, a little shift in focus and perspective, and that little difference can unlock something. It’s still early. They’re taking care of business like they should. It’s important when you have that much potential to get off to a good start, but the season will shape out as it’s supposed to.”

This summer, the Bucks tapped Mike Budenholzer to replace interim head coach Joe Prunty, who took over for Jason Kidd midway through last season. Budenholzer, like Kerr, was brought in to make the Bucks’ offense get up and go to a different beat than Prunty or Kidd could.

“I think teams are starting to take notice and realize we’re not the Bucks that we were when I first got here six years ago,” Bucks small forward Khris Middleton said. “We’re a totally different team even from last year.”

Related
Brook Lopez: Milwaukee Bucks Can Reach NBA Finals

The post Stephen Curry: Bucks ‘Very Similar’ to Pre-Championship Warriors appeared first on SLAM.

Hill, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this past weekend, thinks Tatum’s potential is “scary.”

How can Jayson Tatum get on Grant Hill’s HOF trajectory? Hill: “I think he’s on his way.”https://t.co/rdNtbbh1HQ pic.twitter.com/xM5M01Iwhw

— Tom Westerholm (@Tom_NBA) September 7, 2018

Hill believes Tatum can only benefit from playing on a ridiculously-loaded Boston Celtics team.

Per MassLive:

“He’s a grinder,” Hill said. “He’s a guy that you can tell from his skill set. If you’re that young, to be that polished already, footwork, the understanding of how to use his body, how to get off his shot, his total package, his bag of tricks. It’s at an elite level to be young. You don’t just naturally get that. That’s hours and hours of putting time in the gym.”

What does Tatum need to do to reach the same status?

“I think he’s on his way,” Hill said. “… He’s in a great situation, which is really good. In some ways you could say it’s a blessing and a curse. Because (the Celtics) are so talented, he doesn’t have to do as much, which is great for a young player, and they have a chance to win a championship, and have a lot of runway for the next five, six, eight years. But also it doesn’t really allow us to see the full package. I think we did see that last year when injuries hit that team, and now it was like they needed him to show and prove, and he did. And he was just a rookie. 19 years old. I think time. Time is what he needs, and I can’t wait to watch and see what he ultimately becomes. It’s scary.”

Related
Jayson Tatum: ‘I Definitely Have Gotten a Lot Stronger’

The post Grant Hill: Jayson Tatum on ‘His Way’ to Hall of Fame appeared first on SLAM.

Check out some of the speeches below, via the NBA.

Grant Hill was a two-time NCAA Champion and seven-time All-Star:

Steve Nash was a two-time MVP and eight-time All-Star:

Ray Allen, the all-time leader in three-point field goals, was a ten-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion:

Jason Kidd was a ten-time All-Star who is second on the all-time assist list:

Congrats to the entire class: Maurice Cheeks, Tina Thompson, Charles “Lefty” Driesell, Charlie Scott, Rick Welts, Rod Thorn, Dino Radja, Katie Smith, Ora Mae Washington.

RELATED
Doc Rivers: I Wish I Could Repair Relationships Between Ray Allen, Former Celtics

The post Ray Allen, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash and Grant Hill Get Inducted into Hall of Fame appeared first on SLAM.